Chemotaxonomic value of essential oil components in liverwort species. A review

Seasonal changes in rosemary species: A chemotaxonomic assessment of two varieties based on essential oil compounds, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a popular herb in cooking, traditional healing, and aromatherapy. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of meteorological conditions plant growth stage and genetic factors on the yield, quantitative and qualitative composition, on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of rosemary essential oil from two Tunisian locations (El Fahs and Matmata) during two successive years. The composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistilation from rosemary plants were carried out annually using GC and GC/MS. Results showed the the main constituents were camphor (18.2–28.1%), 1,8-cineole (6.4–18.0%), α-pinene (9.7–13.5%), borneol (4.4–9.5%), and camphene (5.1–8.7%). The principal component and heatmapper analyses showed group segregation of the two studied varities based on major essential oil compounds. Additionally, in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities showed that rosemary essential oils had an important ability in scavenging DPPH, as well as a higher bactericidal effect. The seasonal variation, growth stage and genetic pools seemed to be a factors of significant variation of the composition, antimicrobial and the antioxidant activities of the rosemary essential oils. These finding would be taken to use the chemotaxonomy tools to develop a program for Rosmary protection conservation and identification based on essential oil composition.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha L.) and Racomitrium Moss (Racomitrium canescens (Hedw.) Brid.) Growing in Korea

Bryophytes contain a variety of bioactive metabolites, but studies about the anti-inflammatory effect of bryophytes are meager. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effect of methanol extract of Marchantia polymorpha L. (liverwort) and Racomitrium canescens (Racomitrium moss) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HaCaT cells. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of liverwort and Racomitrium moss, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) production and the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in LPS-induced HaCaT cells were measured. The methanol extract of liverwort and Racomitrium moss significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production in HaCaT cells. When compared with Racomitrium moss extract, pre-treatment with methanol extract of liverwort markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-1β at the concentration of 100 µg/mL with the exception of TNF-α. Further, liverwort extract markedly attenuated the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the culture medium. In addition, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions obtained from the methanol extract of liverwort showed remarkable inhibitory activity against the production of NO in LPS-stimulated HaCaT cells. The LC-MS data revealed the presence of bisbibenzyl types of bioactive components in the methanol extract of liverwort. These data demonstrate that liverwort extract exhibits effective inhibitory activity against the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced HaCaT cells and may be useful for the treatment of inflammation-mediated diseases.

Chemical Diversity of Liverworts From Frullania Genus

Frullania is one of the largest and taxonomically most complex genus of leafy liverworts. Current morphology-based estimates of Frullania diversity are close to 400 species; however, species level-classification of Frullania has been regarded notoriously difficult and subject to many studies. The liverworts classified in this genus have been studied using morphological evidence and molecular markers but also in terms of secondary metabolite composition. Up to now 98 Frullania species have been chemically investigated. As a result, it is known that Frullania species are characterized by a remarkable chemical diversity. The most characteristic compounds present in this liverwort genus are sesquiterpene lactones with eudesamnolides as the most diverse group, and aromatic compounds belonging to bibenzyls. In this review paper we report the distribution of secondary metabolites in all chemically investigated Frullania species and discuss some aspects concerning the division of this genus into chemotypes.

Bryo-Activities: A Review on How Bryophytes Are Contributing to the Arsenal of Natural Bioactive Compounds against Fungi

Usually regarded as less evolved than their more recently diverged vascular sisters, which currently dominate vegetation landscape, bryophytes seem having nothing to envy to the defensive arsenal of other plants, since they had acquired a suite of chemical traits that allowed them to adapt and persist on land. In fact, these closest modern relatives of the ancestors to the earliest terrestrial plants proved to be marvelous chemists, as they traditionally were a popular remedy among tribal people all over the world, that exploit their pharmacological properties to cure the most different diseases. The phytochemistry of bryophytes exhibits a stunning assortment of biologically active compounds such as lipids, proteins, steroids, organic acids, alcohols, aliphatic and aromatic compounds, polyphenols, terpenoids, acetogenins and phenylquinones, thus it is not surprising that substances obtained from various species belonging to such ancestral plants are widely employed as antitumor, antipyretic, insecticidal and antimicrobial. This review explores in particular the antifungal potential of the three Bryophyta divisions-mosses (Musci), hornworts (Anthocerotae) and liverworts (Hepaticae)-to be used as a sources of interesting bioactive constituents for both pharmaceutical and agricultural areas, providing an updated overview of the latest relevant insights.

Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Evaluation of the Essential Oil of Phyllogonium viride (Phyllogoniaceae, Bryophyta)

The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil obtained from Phyllogonium viride Brid. (Phyllogoniaceae, Bryophyta), whose samples were collected in southern Brazil. For the first time, the cytotoxic activity of the essential oil of P. viride in breast and colorectal tumor cells (MCF-7 and HCT-116) was evaluated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of this oil in non-tumoral cells of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) via MTT assay. The compounds majorly found in P. viride essential oil were β-bazzanene (20.30 %), β-caryophyllene (17.06 %), β-chamigrene (14.02), and germacrene B (11.72 %). Treatment with P. viride essential oil in the different tested cell lines did not induce any toxicity in most of the tested concentrations. These data contribute to generating new scientific information about this understudied plant species. Furthermore, the chemical characterization of the compounds present in the essential oil of P. viride can lead to greater elucidation of its biotechnological potential.

Chemical Profiling of Volatile Components of the Gametophyte and Sporophyte Stages of the Hornwort Leiosporoceros dussii (Leiosporocerotaceae) From Panama by HS-SPME-GC-MS

We report for the first time the chemical profiling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of gametophyte and sporophyte life stages of Leiosporoceros dussii, from Panama by using headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to assess distinguishing chemical markers between the male and female gametophytes, and sporophytes of this hornwort. A total of 27 VOCs were identified in L. dussii. Furthermore, the gametophyte and sporophyte showed clear differences in the type and amount of VOCs. The main constituents of L. dussii female thalli were menthacamphor (17.8%), hexanol (12.3%), and menthyl acetate (12.3%), while the major compounds of the male thalli were hexanol (25.3%), β-ionone (21.1%), benzeneacetaldehyde (17.6%), and β-cyclocitral (14.0%). The main VOCs of the sporophytes were hexanal (19.3%), β-cyclocitral (17.6%), 2-nonenal (15.8%), hexanol (12.5%), and β-ionone (10.2%). Unique compounds found in the female thalli were 3-pentanone, 3-octenol, nonanol, estragole, and menthyl acetate, and in the male thalli were methyl heptenone, nonanal, neoisomenthol, and bornyl acetate. Isomenthol, thymol, isomenthol acetate, and β-methylnaphthalene were only found in the sporophyte. The characteristic VOCs identified in L. dussii suggest a difference between the chemical constituents of L. dussii and other hornworts species. The presence of simple VOCs when compared with compounds previously characterized in another hornwort genera may support the distinct genetic nature of this species.

An Analysis of Volatile Components of the Liverworts Dumortiera hirsuta subsp. hirsuta and Dumortiera hirsuta subsp. nepalensis (Dumortieraceae) from Panama and Taxonomic Observations on the Species

We report for the first time the chemical composition of volatile components (VOCs) of two subspecies, D. hirsuta subsp. hirsuta and D. hirsuta subsp. nepalensis, of the liverwort Dumortiera hirsuta from Panama by using headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to assess distinguishing markers between the two species. Forty VOCs were identified in total for both subspecies. Of these, 34 are reported for the first time in D. hirsuta. Furthermore, both subspecies showed clear differences in the type and amount of VOCs. The major compounds in D. hirsuta subsp. hirsuta were α-gurjunene, β-selinene, α-guaiene, α-humulene and β-caryophyllene; while in D. hirsuta subsp. nepalensis were ledene, α-gurjunene, β-caryophyllene and α-guaiene, respectively. Two oxygenated sesquiterpenes, globulol and nerolidol, could be considered as possible distinguishing chemical markers between these two subspecies. We conclude that both morphotypes of D. hirsuta are chemically different.

Chemotypes and Biomarkers of Seven Species of New Caledonian Liverworts from the Bazzanioideae Subfamily

Volatile components of seven species of the Bazzanioideae sub-family (Lepidoziaceae) native to New Caledonia, including three endemic species (Bazzania marginata, Acromastigum caledonicum and A. tenax), were analyzed by GC-FID-MS in order to index these plants to known or new chemotypes. Detected volatile constituents in studied species were constituted mainly by sesquiterpene, as well as diterpene compounds. All so-established compositions cannot successfully index some of them to known chemotypes but afforded the discovery of new chemotypes such as cuparane/fusicoccane. The major component of B. francana was isolated and characterized as a new zierane-type sesquiterpene called ziera-12(13),10(14)-dien-5-ol (23). In addition, qualitative intraspecies variations of chemical composition were very important particularly for B. francana which possessed three clearly defined different compositions. We report here also the first phytochemical investigation of Acromastigum species. Moreover, crude diethyl ether extract of B. vitatta afforded a new bis(bibenzyl) called vittatin (51), for which a putative biosynthesis was suggested.

GC/MS Fingerprinting of Solvent Extracts and Essential Oils Obtained from Liverwort Species

Studies concerning chemical profiling of the volatiles present in the solvent extracts from liverworts help to determine inter- and intraspecific relationships in this plant group. Due to the fact that the liverworts are morphologically very small and it is difficult to collect their sufficient amounts, there are still a few data concerning the chemistry of essential oils. The available data indicate however, that the components present in the essential oils can be used in chemosystematic studies of these spore-forming plants. Compounds occurring in the essential oils constitute a powerful tool for studying chemical differences between or within liverwort species for which the characteristic components are mono- and sesquiterpenoids. Good results were obtained for the liverworts species from the genera Asterella, Conocephalum, Diplophyllum, Jungermannia, Lepidozia, Radula, Reboulia or Scapania.

Chemotypic Variation of Conocephalum salebrosum in the Southeastern Appalachian Range: A Search for Cryptic Plant Biodiversity Around the Tennessee River Valley

The chemotaxonomy of the Conocephalum spp. complex, based on GC-MS analysis of the volatile compositions, has helped to reveal cryptic biodiversity and delineate actual distribution patterns of chemotypes. In the Appalachian Mountains, two samples from eastern central part of the range were previously shown to be C. salebrosum. Additionally, it has recently come to light that stress can alter the volatile composition of C. conicum. This study address a previously unsampled region of the southeastern Appalachians, a region that is a biodiversity epicenter, to determine if more chemotypic diversity remains to be seen for the Conocephalum spp. complex. A common garden experiment was performed, but yielded more of a common stress experiment, and significantly altered the volatile compositions. Wild-collected controls and a meta-analysis of these data and those from previous works suggest that the common garden experiment caused stress and that the liverworts sampled belong to the C. salebrosum clade of of the Conocephalum spp. complex.

Volatile Components Emitted from the Liverwort Marchantia Paleacea Subsp. Diptera

The volatile components from the thalloid liverwort, Marchantia paleacea subsp. diptera were investigated by HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis. The monocyclic monoterpene aldehyde, perillaldehyde was identified for the first time as the major component and its content was about 50% of the volatiles, along with β-pinene, limonene, β-caryophyllene, α-selinene and β-selinene as minor volatiles. Using MD (Multi-dimensional) GC-MS analysis equipped with a chiral column as the second column, the chirality was determined of both perillaldehyde and limonene, which was considered as the precursor of perillaldehyde,. Both compounds were ( S)-(-)-enantiomers (over 99.0 %) and ( R)-enantiomers (less than 0.5 %). This is the first report of the existence of perillaldehyde in liverworts.