Evernia prunastri and Pseudoevernia furfuraceae lichens and their major metabolites as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer agents

► We investigated chemical composition of acetone extracts of two lichens species. ► Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities of extracts were tested. ► Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities of metabolites were tested. ► Tested lichen extracts and compounds demonstrated strong biological effects. ► Lichens may be used as natural antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer agents. The aim of this study is to investigate chemical composition of acetone extracts of the lichens Evernia prunastri and Pseudoevernia furfuraceae and in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities of these extracts and some their major metabolites. HPLC–UV method was used for identification of secondary metabolites. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing power and determination of total phenolic compounds. As a result of the study physodic acid had largest antioxidant activities. Total content of phenol in extracts was determined as pyrocatechol equivalent. The antimicrobial activity was estimated by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration by the broth microdilution method. The most active was also physodic acid. Anticancer activity was tested against FemX (human melanoma) and LS174 (human colon carcinoma) cell lines using MTT method.