Search

First published in 1988: This easy-to-read handbook provides a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on lichens. The structure of lichens and their dual nature is explained, as well as the physiology of interaction of the symbionts. The way lichens reproduce and their ecology is included, with methods for cultivating them and their isolated symbionts. Extremely useful as a text of lichenology, this handbook will benefit students of lichenology and allied fields, those interested in symbiotic associations and ecology, and teachers of biology, botany, and ecology courses.

This revised and extended edition provides in-depth insights into the benefits and untapped potential of lichen-derived bioactive compounds. The whole spectrum of these compounds'biological and medical functions, from antibiotic to antiviral and anti-carcinogenic properties, is presented. In addition, a new chapter discusses the anti-neurodegenerative and anti-diabetic activities of lichenic secondary metabolites. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable asset for students and researchers in this field.

The book contains a further collection of coloured images of plates obtained by thin layer chromatography of many lichen substances as an aid for their determination. The images show mounted runs obtained in solvents A, B/B'and C commonly used in lichenology. They show results obtained using 5 x 5 cm HPTLC plates in daylight and under UV light, before and after treating with sulfuric acid. The origin of each lichen substance (or substances) is recorded. Das Buch enthält eine weitere Sammlung farbiger Bildtafeln von Dünnschicht-Chromatogrammen von vielen Flechteninhaltsstoffen und soll als Hilfe zu deren Bestimmung dienen. Die Bilder zeigen montierte Laufbahnen zu den in der Lichenologie üblichen Laufmitteln A, B/B'und C. Sie zeigen die Ergebnisse auf 5 x 5 cm HPTLC-Platten bei Tageslicht und UV-Licht vor und nach der Behandlung mit Schwefelsäure. Die Herkunft jeder Flechtensubstanz (oder Substanzen) ist angegeben.

The present book discusses in detail the nature and bioactive properties of lichen secondary metabolites. Their therapeutic potential ranges from antibiotic to antioxidant and from anticarcinogenic to antiviral activity. It further discusses their use in traditional medicine and highlights possible future directions in the study of their pharmaceutical potential.

This book discusses in detail molecular, mycobiont culture, biomonitoring and bioprospection of lichens, providing insights into advances in different fields of lichenology by applying modern techniques and approaches and examining how their application has enhanced or changed classical approaches. It offers a valuable resource, especially for beginners, students and researchers from different academic backgrounds interested in the study of lichens. In recent years, the introduction of modern analytical techniques and approaches has significantly improved our understanding of the environment, including lichens. Lichens are unique organisms which possess untapped potential as effective and reliable bioindicators, sources of therapeutic phytochemicals, and as excellent extremophiles. The unique and peculiar characteristics of lichens underline the need for a multidimensional approach to explore their potential in various fields of environment science, botany and chemistry. Modern techniques, especially molecular techniques, have greatly enriched the field of lichen taxonomy and its position in the plant kingdom, revealing little-known species and exploring their evolutionary history, while multivariate analysis and GIS approaches have established lichens as an ideal and reliable tool for monitoring air pollution. Advanced culture techniques have expanded the pharmacological applications of lichens, which was formerly restricted due to their small biomass. The advent of sophisticated analytical instrumentation has now facilitated the isolation and characterization of lichens'bioactive constituents, even in lower concentrations, as well as the estimation of their stress responses at different levels of pollution. As lichen diversity is adversely affected by increasing air pollution, there is a pressing need to develop effective management practices to conserve, restore and document lichen diversity.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms in which fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria form an intimate biological union. This diverse group is found in almost all terrestrial habitats from the tropics to polar regions. In this second edition, four completely new chapters cover recent developments in the study of these fascinating organisms, including lichen genetics and sexual reproduction, stress physiology and symbiosis, and the carbon economy and environmental role of lichens. The whole text has been fully updated, with chapters covering anatomical, morphological and developmental aspects; the contribution of the unique secondary metabolites produced by lichens to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry; patterns of lichen photosynthesis and respiration in relation to different environmental conditions; the role of lichens in nitrogen fixation and mineral cycling; and the use of lichens as indicators of air pollution. This is a valuable reference for both students and researchers interested in lichenology.