Ethereous, acetonic and methanolic crude extracts from Cladonia substellata, C. Crispatula and Cladina dendroides occured on sandy soil of Paraíba State - Brazil, were tested against PC3 and MDA-MB231 cells from prostatic and breast human adenocarcinom, and P388 and L1210 cells from murine leukemia.The results showed the highest inhibition of Cladonia substellata extracts against the four tested cells. This specie and Cladina dendroides, except its methanolic extract, presented IC50 lower than 50µg/ml that indicates a satisfactory activity. Cladonia crispatula extracts did not exert inhibition on the studied cells. Chromatographic tests revealed the presence, in highest content, of usnic an stictic acids in C. substellata; thamnolic acid in C. crispatula protocetraric and fumarprocetraric acids and atranorin in C. dendroides, what one may suppose to be the active principles of the studied species.
activity cytotoxic; lichen; Cladoniaceae