Nature of light-absorbing pigments from Brazilian lichens identified by Raman spectroscopy

Light-absorbing pigments from different chemical classes have been identified from the lichens Usnea sp. and Crocodia aurata using Raman spectroscopy supported by quantum mechanical DFT calculations. Raman spectra were obtained directly from the lichen tissues as well as from isolated extracts. Usnic acid, a chemomarker of Usnea spp has been reported together with a minor constituent, namely stictic acid, which has been unambiguously identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectral analysis. The structures of calycin and pulvinic dilactone isolated from Crocodia aurata have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The ubiquitous carotenoids have been characterized by FT-Raman and dispersive Raman microimaging in tissues of Usnea sp. and C. aurata, respectively. The Raman map has revealed the presence of a mixture of carotenoids heterogeneously distributed in the upper layer of C. aurata. In this work we have demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can be used to monitor aromatic and conjugated polyenic pigments in different layers of lichen tissues.