Seasonal changes in antioxidant activity, flavonoid, anthocyanin and phenolic compounds in Flavoparmelia caperata (L.) Hale and Physcia dubia (Hoffm.) Lettau from Babol forest sites in north of Iran

The epiphytic lichen Flavoparmelia caperata were collected randomly from mountain forest sites of Firouzja (north of Iran) at 780m altitude, 36° 05ʹ N latitude and 52° 40ʹ E longitude. Also Physcia dubia was collected randomly from forest sites of Daronkola (north of Iran) at 220m altitude, 36° 21ʹ N latitude and 52° 43ʹE longitude. The study was aimed at recording the effects of seasonal changes on antioxidant enzymes activities and flavonoid, anthocyanin and phenolic compounds the two lichen species. The results showed that peroxidase activity in both species increased significantly in winter. The activity of polyphenol oxidase and ascorbate peroxidase in both species and catalase in P. dubia were increased in summer. In spring, polyphenol oxidase activity increased significantly more than in winter in Physcia dubia. Phenolic compounds in Flavoparmelia caperata increased significantly in winter compared to spring and summer, but in Physcia dubia they increased significantly in summer compared to winter and spring. Flavonoid and Anthocyanin compounds in Flavoparmelia caperata increased significantly in winter compared to spring and summer. In Physcia dubia, Flavonoid decreased significantly in spring compared to winter and summer, and anthocyanin increased significantly in winter compared to spring and summer. The results revealed that seasonal acclimation depended on the changes in antioxidants enzymes activity, flavonoid, anthocyanin and phenolic compounds in lichens.