Chitsupang Kheawsalab, Wanaruk Saipunkaew, Somporn Chantara, Pitchaya Mungkornasawakul and Nattakarn Sransupphasirigul
Abstract
Short-term experiment was performed to study effect of sulfuric acid solution in a lichen Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl. This study focuses on changes in atranorin content and morphology of upper surface structure in this species. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV detector was used to determine concentrations of atranorin in P. cocoes. The results show that the highest average concentration of atranorin were found in a treatment with pH 3.0 which was 140.14ppm and the lowest concentration was found in a sample without any treatment which was 111.68ppm. There was no statistical correlation between treatments. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to investigate upper surface and calcium oxalate crystal structure after samples were treated with acidic solution. SEM micrographs showed corrosive effects on calcium oxalate crystal surfaces that were cracks and many holes in all the treatments.