Antiproliferative and Antimicrobial Activities of Selected Bryophytes

One-hundred and sixty-eight aqueous and organic extracts of 42 selected bryophyte species were screened in vitro for antiproliferative activity on a panel of human gynecological cancer cell lines containing HeLa (cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma), A2780 (ovarian carcinoma), and T47D (invasive ductal breast carcinoma) cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and for antibacterial activity on 11 strains using the disc-diffusion method. A total of 99 extracts derived from 41 species exerted ≥25% inhibition of proliferation of at least one of the cancer cell lines at 10 μg/mL. In the cases of Brachythecium rutabulum, Encalypta streptocarpa, Climacium dendroides, Neckera besseri, Pleurozium schreberi, and Pseudoleskeella nervosa, more than one extract was active in the antiproliferative assay, whereas the highest activity was observed in the case of Paraleucobryum longifolium. From the tested families, Brachytheciaceae and Amblystegiaceae provided the highest number of antiproliferative extracts. Only 19 samples of 15 taxa showed moderate antibacterial activity, including the most active Plagiomnium cuspidatum, being active on 8 tested strains. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus were the most susceptible to the assayed species. This is the first report on the bioactivities of these 14 species.

Pungent and Bitter, Cytotoxic and Antiviral Terpenoids from Some Bryophytes and Inedible Fungi

Most liverworts elaborate characteristic odiferous, pungent and bitter tasting compounds many of which show antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, allergenic contact dermatitis, cytotoxic, insecticidal, anti-HIV, superoxide anion radical release, plant growth regulatory, neurotrophic, NO production inhibitory, muscle relaxant, antiobesity, piscicidal and nematocidal activities. Several inedible mushrooms produce female spider pheromones, strong antioxidant, and cytotoxic compounds. The present paper is concerned with the extraction and isolation of terpenoids from some bryophytes and inedible fungi and their pungent and bitter taste, and cytotoxic and antiviral activity.

Phytochemical and biological studies of bryophytes

The bryophytes contain the Marchantiophyta (liverworts), Bryophyta (mosses) and Anthocerotophyta (hornworts). Of these, the Marchantiophyta have a cellular oil body which produce a number of mono-, sesqui- and di-terpenoids, aromatic compounds like bibenzyl, bis-bibenzyls and acetogenins. Most sesqui- and di-terpenoids obtained from liverworts are enantiomers of those found in higher plants. Many of these compounds display a characteristic odor, and can have interesting biological activities. These include: allergenic contact dermatitis, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral, cytotoxic, insecticidal, insect antifeedant, superoxide anion radical release, 5-lipoxygenase, calmodulin, hyaluronidase, cyclooxygenase, DNA polymerase β, and α-glucosidase and NO production inhibitory, antioxidant, piscicidal, neurotrophic and muscle relaxing activities among others. Each liverwort biosynthesizes unique components, which are valuable for their chemotaxonomic classification. Typical chemical structures and biological activity of the selected liverwort constituents as well as the hemi- and total synthesis of some biologically active compounds are summarized.

A New Pentacyclic Triterpene fromHumata tyermanniMoore with the Inhibitory Activities against LPS-Induced NO Production in RAW264.7 Macrophages

One new pentacyclic triterpene, hopane-22 (29)-en-24ol(2), with five known hopane-type pentacyclic triterpene compounds: hop-22(29)-ene(1), adiantone(3), 22-hydroxyhopane(4), 6α, 22-dihydroxyhopane(5), and 17(21)-hopene(6)were isolated fromHumata tyermanniMoore. The structure of compound2was elucidated on the basis of its 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis. All these compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages.

Anticancer Evaluation of Adiantum venustum Don

Cancer is a malignant disease that is characterized by rapid and uncontrolled formation of abnormal cells which may mass together to form a growth or tumor, or proliferate throughout the body. Next to heart disease, cancer is a major killer of mankind. This study aims at a preliminary phytochemical screening and anticancer evaluation of Adiantum venustum Don against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in animal model. The findings indicate that ethanolic extract of A. venustum Don possesses significant anticancer activity and also reduces elevated level of lipid peroxidation due to the presence of terpenoids and flavonoids. Thus, ethanolic extract of A. venustum Don could have vast therapeutic application against cancer.

Antifungal dibenzofuran bis(bibenzyl)s from the liverwort Asterella angusta

Bioactivity-guided separation of an antifungal extract from the liverwort Asterella angusta afforded four bis(bibenzyl)s, asterelin A (1), asterelin B (2), 11-O-demethyl marchantin I (3), and dihydroptychantol A (4), together with six known ones. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D-NMR, MS), and that of 2 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of dibenzofuran bis(bibenzyl)s. The antifungal activity of the isolated bis(bibenzyl)s against the common clinical pathogenic fungus Candida albicans was evaluated using both the thin-layer chromatography bioautographic assay and the broth microdilution method. They showed moderate antifungal activities with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 16 microg/ml to 512 microg/ml.