The aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition of the ether, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts of Ramalina capitata by GC-FID and GC-MS for the first time. The main identified components in the ether, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts were everninic acid (24.7, 33.7 and 22.2%), orcinol (25.8, 16.7 and 11.9%), orcinol monomethyl ether (11.6, 7.6 and 4.8%), 3-methylorsellinic acid (10.2, 7.1 and 9.0%) and usnic acid (4.4, 8.2 and 25.8%), respectively. Considerable amount (10.4%) of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-3,5,6-trimethylbenzoic acid was detected in ethyl acetate extract. Additionally, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid and their esters were observed in the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts in the range of 4.1-0.1%, while their amount was below 0.05% in the ether extract. According to the results reported here R. capitata predominantly biosynthesises derivatives of orcinol and, in much lesser extent, derivatives of β-orcinol.
Keywords: Ramalina capitata (Ach.) Nyl; everninic acid; orcinol; orcinol monomethyl ether; volatiles.