Species and Chemical Diversity in Lichen Family Teloschistaceae, and their Bioprospecting Potential: A Review in Indian Context

Abstract

Teloschistaceae is one of the largest families of lichenized fungi in the world with more than a
thousand species. In India, the family is represented by 111 species under 35 genera. Most of
the species of the family are bright yellow, orange or red due to the presence of anthraquinone
pigments. Parietin is the most common pigment found in the family that acts as a light screening
agent for the lichen. In this article, both species and chemical diversity within Teloschistaceae
occurring in India are discussed. Further, the utilization of some species of the family such
as Teloschistes flavicans, Massjukiella candelaria, Rusavskia elegans, Oxneria huculica, and
Xanthoria parietina in bioprospection studies are documented.