ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ACETONE EXTRACT AND USNIC ACID CONSTITUENT OF LICHEN USNEA LONGISSIMA (ACH.)

Abstract

Acetone extract of lichen Usnea longissima (Ach.) and its usnic acid constituent (concentrations of 0.1, 0.5; 1.0 and 10.0 mg/mL) was investigated in order to examine the activity of antimicrobial test i.e. Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Salmonella typhi ATCC 13311, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 70603, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus as pathogenic fungus. The usnic acid constituent was tested by means of extensive Retention factor (Rf) compared with data reported in the literatures. High-inhibitory activity test using acetone extract showed that it can inhibit activity of E. coli, S. typhi, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, B. cereus, and C. albicans with averages diameter zone of 9.22; 6.32; 15.32; 10.65; 4.92; and 6.82 mm, while the usnic acid as antimicrobial material were found with diameter zone of 18.57; 18.12; 11.27; 8.65; 23.65; and 6.5 mm, respectively. The low inhibitory activity was occured to the A. flavus that was exhibited by using acetone extract and usnic acid constituent from lichen U. longissima.