Recent Advances in the Phytochemistry of Bryophytes: Distribution, Structures and Biological Activity of Bibenzyl and Bisbibenzyl Compounds

Research on bryophyte phytochemistry has revealed the presence of different phytochemicals like fatty acids, terpenoids, small phenolic molecules, etc. Small phenolic molecules, i.e., bibenzyls (of two aromatic rings) and bisbibenzyls (four aromatic rings), are unique signature molecules of liverworts. The first bisbibenzyls marchantin A and riccardin A were discovered in two consecutive years, i.e., 1982 and 1983, respectively, by Asakawa and coworkers. Since then, about 70 bisbibenzyls have been reported. These molecules are characterized and identified using different spectroscopic techniques and surveyed for different bioactivity and structure-activity relations. Biochemistry is determined by the season, geography, and environment. In this review, quantitative and qualitative information on bibenzyls and bisbibenzyl compounds and their distribution in different liverworts across, geographies along withtraditional to advanced extraction methods, and characterization techniques are summarized. Also, a comprehensive account of characteristic spectra of different bisbibenzyl compounds, their subtypes, and their basic skeleton patterns are compared. A comprehensive table is provided here for the first time presenting the quantity of bibenzyls, bisbenzyls, and their derivatives found in bryophytes, mentioning the spectroscopic data and mass profiles of the compounds. The significance of these compounds in different bioactivities like antibiotic, antioxidative, antitumor, antivenomous, anti-influenza, insect antifeedant, cytotoxic, and anticancerous activities are surveyed and critically enumerated.

Antioxidant potential of various extracts from 5 common European mosses and its correlation with phenolic compounds

Introduction: This paper presents the results of research about the antioxidant properties of extracts from 5 moss species, namely Brachythecium rutabulum, Callicladium haldanianum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Orthodicranum montanum and Polytrichastrum formosum. The macerates of each above mentioned species in water and ethanol (50% and 96%) solutions were analysed.

Objective: Total phenolic acids, total flavonoids and total flavonols concentrations and content of carotenoids was determined. Also some phenolic compounds were determined by HPLC.

Methods: The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and the advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) formation inhibition were studied.

Results: The obtained results showed that the extracts prepared with 50% ethanol had the strongest radical scavenging activities. Every 50% ethanol extract also inhibited formation of AOPP. 96% ethanol extracts had the lowest free radical scavenging activities, although B. rutabulum extract strongly inhibited protein oxidation. Pearson’s correlation showed that the radical scavenging effects of water extracts and extracts prepared with 50% ethanol are dependent on the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids.

Conclusion: The results suggest the moss extracts as materials for potential use in pharmacy or cosmetology.

Oxidative stress in moss Bryum caespiticium (Bryaceae) under the influence of high temperature and light intensity in a technogenically transformed environment

Mosses are pioneer plants in post-technogenic areas. Therefore, the question of adaptive reactions of mosses from these habitats represents a scientific interest. The research is devoted to the study of adaptive changes in the metabolism of the dominant moss species Bryum caespiticium Hedw., collected in the devastated territories of the Novoyavorivsk State Mining and Chemical Enterprise (SMCE) “Sirka (Sulfur)” exposed to hyperthermia and insolation, which cause oxidative stress in plants. The influence of these stressors on the activity and thermal stability of antioxidant enzymes, hydrogen peroxide content, anion radical generation and accumulation of prooxidant components in moss shoots was studied. The activity and thermal stability of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were analysed forB. caespiticium moss from different locations of northern exposure at the sulfur mining dump No 1 in summer and autumn. We established the dependence of the activity of antioxidant enzymes of moss on the intensity of light and temperature on the experimental plots of the dump No 1. In summer, the highest activity and thermal stability rates of peroxidase and SOD were observed. Under the conditions of the experiment in shoots of В. caespiticium from the northern peak of the dump under the influence of 2 hours temperature action (+ 42 ºС) the most significant increase in peroxidase activity was found by 1.78 times and SOD by 1.89 times, as well as increase in its thermal stability by 1.35–1.42 times, respectively. The increase in peroxidase and SOD activity, as well as the increase in their thermal stability caused by hyperthermia were negated by pre-processing with a protein biosynthesis inhibitor cyclohexamide, which may indicate the participation of the protein-synthesizing system in this process. The effect of increasing the thermal stability of enzymes can be considered as a mechanism of adaptation of the protein-synthesizing system to the action of high temperatures. Increase in the activity and thermal stability of antioxidant enzymes is caused primarily by changes in the expression of stress protein genes, which control the synthesis of specific adaptogens and protectors. The obtained results indicate that the extreme conditions of the anthropogenically transformed environment contribute to the development of forms with the highest potential abilities. The mechanism of action of high temperatures is associated with the development of oxidative stress, which is manifested in the intensification of lipid peroxidation and the generation of superoxide anion radical. It was found that temperature stress and high insolation caused an increased generation of superoxide anion radical as the main inducers of protective reactions in the samples of B. caespiticium from the experimental transect of the sulfur mining heap. It is known that the synthesis of Н2О2 occurs under stress and is a signal to start a number of molecular, biochemical and physiological processes of cells, including adaptation of plants to extreme temperatures. It is shown that high temperatures initiate the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, including Н2О2, under the action of extreme temperatures, can cause the activation of signaling systems. Therefore, the increase in the content of Н2О2 as a signaling mediator is a component of the antioxidant protection system. It is determined that adaptive restructuring of the metabolism of the moss В. caespiticium is associated with the accumulation of signaling prooxidant components (diene and triene conjugates and dienketones). The increase in primary lipid peroxidation products, detected by us, under the action of hyperthermia may indicate the intensification of free radical oxidation under adverse climatic conditions in the area of the sulfur production dump, which leads to the intensification of lipid peroxidation processes. The accumulation of radical and molecular lipid peroxidation products are signals for the activation of protective systems, activators of gene expression and processes that lead to increased resistance of plants.

Can Biomarkers Respond Upon Freshwater Pollution?-A Moss-Bag Approach

Simple Summary

Pollution of the aquatic environment is a well-known problem with a long history. Monitoring water quality relies on biota in order to provide adequative assessment and management of the water bodies. Among the different biological indicators applied, aquatic macrophytes, and particularly mosses, are in direct relationship with the environment and their use as biomonitors is well documented. In the current study, we made an attempt to apply new fast, reliable and comprehensible methods for water pollution control. Three reservoirs were selected for the following reasons: (i) they were polluted with hazardous substances (heavy metals and organic material) and (ii) they are used for fish farming and irrigation and their water quality directly affects human health. Moss-bags with the selected biomonitor Fontinalis antipyretica were exposed in the reservoirs for a period of 30 days and molecular, chemical and micromorphological markers were studied. All biomarkers tested appeared to be sensitive to the pollution. This research provided a basis for further studies on selected biomarkers towards standardization.

Abstract

Moss-bags were applied to study the effect of contamination in three standing water bodies in Bulgaria (Kardzhali, Studen Kladenets and Zhrebchevo Reservoirs), the first two with old industrial contamination and the last polluted with short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. collected from background (unpolluted) site was placed in cages for a period of 30 days. The present study examined whether inorganic and organic pollution detected with moss-bags resulted in corresponding differences in molecular, chemical and micromorphological markers. Suppressed large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) expression was assessed in moss-bags from two of the reservoirs, contaminated with heavy metals. There was a decrease of the total phenolic content (TPC) in the moss-bags, which provides a basis for further studies of the chemical content of aquatic mosses. Fontinalis antipyretica also showed a response through leaf micromorphological characteristics. In the all three reservoirs, an increase of the twig leaf cell number was recorded (p ≤ 0.01 for Kardzhali and p ≤ 0.001 for Studen Kladenets and Zhrebchevo reservoirs), as well as of the stem leaf cell number in Zhrebchevo Reservoir (p ≤ 0.001). On the contrary, the width of the cells decreased in the studied anthropogenically impacted reservoirs. All three studied groups of biomarkers (molecular, chemical and micromorphological) appeared to be sensitive to freshwater pollution. The results achieved indicated that rbcL gene expression, TPC, cell number and size are promising biomonitoring tools.

In vitro medicinal potentials of Bryum capillare, a moss sample, from Turkey

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This study has highlighted the medicinal importance of Bryum capillare (BC), a moss sample, from Turkey, as a source of compounds with antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, antigenotoxic and anticancer properties.

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Even though several studies are present in the literature especially about the antibacterial and antifungal activities of bryophyte samples, very few reports on a wide range of their therapeutic effects were published until now.

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To the best of our knowledge, these results are the first results about the wide range of activities of this bryophyte sample collected from Turkey.

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The data available on bioactive compounds, therapeutic potential of BC suggests that they can be regarded as valuable natural products to moss-based pharmaceuticals that can be used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases.

In this study was conducted the in vitro antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, antigenotoxic and anticancer activities investigations on the moss Bryum capillare Hedw (BC). Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity were tested by MIC and microplate biofilm methods on antibiotic resistant bacteria. While the antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by DPPH, metal chelating, plasma lipid peroxidation and total phenolic content, the antigenotoxicity and cytotoxicity were established by Comet test and the WST-1 Cell proliferation assay kit respectively. The MIC values were found to be ≥ 125 µg.mL⁻¹ and a biofilm inhibition of 3–5% against only S. epidermidis was observed. Total phenolic compounds were determined as 23.26 mg/g. The results of DPPH assay, chelating and plasma lipid peroxidation activity were found to be 15%, 3% and 4% respectively. The extract was observed to decrease the affect of H₂O₂ that cause DNA damage. The BC was also determined 60 ± 5% anticancer activity against SKBR 3 and 76 ± 5% anticancer activity against HeLa cells, where this concentration had only 18 ± 5% cytotoxicity against MCF-12A cells. Also, these results have indicated the potential of Bryum capillare for the first time in novel natural compounds search.

Evaluation of cytotoxic potential of chlorpyrifos using Lens culinaris Med as efficient bioindicator

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of different concentrations of chlorpyrifos (CPF), using L. culinaris apical cells as a biological indicator. L. culinaris seeds were exposed to different concentrations of chlorpyrifos (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 15 mg L^-1) and a control solution based on distilled water. Subsequently, root growth was measured during 24, 48 and 72 h. Therefore, the mitotic index (MI) and the number of cellular abnormalities were determined at 72 h. According to the obtained results, a decrease in root size was observed in the concentrations of T5 (8 mg L^-1) and T6 (10 mg L^-1). On the other hand, it was evidenced that, through all the evaluated concentrations, the inhibition of mitosis in the concentrations of T5 (8 mg L^-1), T6 (10 mg L^-1) and T7 (15 mg L^-1) was greater than 50%. Additionally, a variety of chromosomal abnormalities were reported, such as Micronuclei, sticky chromosomes in anaphase, chromosome disruption, irregular anaphase, nucleus absence, nuclear lesions, chromosomes grouped in metaphase, anaphase bridges, metaphase sticky chromosomes, present in all concentrations evaluated. Consequently, the presence of micronuclei in the concentrations of 8 mg L^-1, 10 mg L^-1 and 15 mg L^-1 indicates that the CPF is a highly cytotoxic substance to L. culinaris. Therefore, L. culinaris is a plant species that offers a feasible experimental model to be implemented in laboratory studies with the purpose to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of pesticides.

Water Extract of Cryphaea heteromalla (Hedw.) D. Mohr Bryophyte as a Natural Powerful Source of Biologically Active Compounds

Bryophytes comprise of the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Cryphaea heteromalla, (Hedw.) D. Mohr, is a non-vascular lower plant belonging to mosses group. To the date, the most chemically characterized species belong to the liverworts, while only 3.2% and 8.8% of the species belonging to the mosses and hornworts, respectively, have been investigated. In this work, we present Folin-Ciocalteu and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) data related to crude extracts of C. heteromalla obtained by three different extraction solvents: pure water (WT), methanol:water (80:20 v/v) (MET), and ethanol:water (80:20 v/v) (ETH). The water extract proved to be the best solvent showing the highest content of biophenols and the highest ORAC value. The C. heteromalla-WT extract was investigated by HPLC-TOF/MS (High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Time of Flight/Mass Spectrometry) allowing for the detection of 14 compounds, five of which were phenolic compounds, derivatives of benzoic, caffeic, and coumaric acids. Moreover, the C. heteromalla WT extract showed a protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBH) on the murine NIH-3T3 fibroblast cell line.

Phytotoxicity of pesticides mancozeb and chlorpyrifos: correlation with the antioxidative defence system in Allium cepa

Pesticides are a group of chemical substances which are widely used to improve agricultural production. However, these substances could be persistent in soil and water, accumulative in sediment or bio-accumulative in biota depending on their solubility, leading to different types of environmental pollution. The present study was done to assess the impact of pesticides-mancozeb and chlorpyrifos, via morphological and physiological parameters using Allium cepa test system. Phytotoxic effects of pesticides were examined via germination percentage, survival percentage, root and shoot length, root shoot length ratio, seedling vigor index, percentage of phytotoxicity and tolerance index. Oxidative stress on Allium seedlings caused by pesticides was also assessed by investigating the activity of antioxidative enzymes viz. catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Correlation was worked out between morphological parameters and antioxidative enzymes to bring out the alliance between them. Mancozeb and chlorpyrifos concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with the activity of antioxidative enzymes and negatively correlated with morphological parameters. Significant positive correlation between various morphological parameters showed their interdependency. However, negative correlation was obtained between activity of antioxidative enzymes and morphological parameters. The enzymes however, showed positive correlation with each other. Based on our result we can conclude that all morphological parameters were adversely affected by the two pesticides as reflected by phytotoxicity in Allium. Their negative correlation with activity of antioxidative enzymes indicates that upregulation of antioxidative enzymes is not sufficient to overcome the toxic effect, thereby signifying the threat being caused by the regular use of these pesticides.

Biomonitoring of air pollution using antioxidative enzyme system in two genera of family Pottiaceae (Bryophyta)

Bryophyte particularly mosses, have been found to serve as reliable indicators of air pollution and can serve as bryometers-biological instruments for measuring air pollution. They are remarkable colonizers, as they have the ability to survive in adverse environments and are also particular in their requirement of environmental conditions, which makes them appropriate ecological indicators. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity of antioxidative enzymes in two mosses viz., Hyophila rosea R.S. Williams and Semibarbula orientalis (Web.) Wijk. & Marg. and assess their suitability as biomonitors. Three different locations viz., Lucknow University, Residency (contaminated sites) and Dilkusha Garden (reference site) within Lucknow city with different levels of air pollutants were used for comparison. Our results indicate that air pollution caused marked enhancement in activity of antioxidative enzymes viz., catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. All the three are capable of scavenging reactive oxygen species. In the genus S. orientalis, catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity was minimum at the reference site Dilkusha Garden and was significantly higher at the two contaminated sites for catalase and peroxidase, whereas the difference was non significant for superoxide dismutase. In H. rosea the activity of catalase and peroxidase at the three locations was almost similar, however superoxide dismutase activity showed a significant increase in the two contaminated sites when compared to the reference site, the value being highest for Lucknow University site. It was thus observed that the two genera, from the same location, showed difference in the activity of the antioxidative enzymes. Based on our results, we recommend bryophytes as good monitors of air pollution.

Scorpion anti-venom activity of botanicals: a pharmacological approach

Scorpion bite is considered as one of the common and dangerous phenomenon throughout the world. The clinical manifestations include pulmonary edema, myocardial damage, intracerebral haemorrhage, brachial plexopathy, renal failure etc. which sometimes leads to mortality. The common antivenin therapy includes anti-scorpion venom serum or prazosin. In the vast rural areas of the third world countries phytotherapy is considered as an alternative system of medicine and scorpion sting is treated with the help of medicinal botanicals. As the safety and efficacy are considered as important aspects of anti venin therapy, conventional treatment can be supported by the herbal remedy. The present review compiles a number of medicinal plants pharmacologically evaluated in vitro and/or in vivo for scorpion antivenin properties. Considering the aspects like cost effectiveness, availability, lesser side effects and development of drug resistance, plant based anti venin therapy may be considered as a possible remedy against scorpion envenomation.

Potential antioxidant activity of the moss Bryum moravicum

A limited number of mosses has ever been studied regarding antioxidant activity among which only a few are European species. As a part of our ongoing screening of new promising bryophyte resources of natural antioxidants, a relevant biological activity investigation was conducted on the moss Bryum moravicum Podp. (Bryaceae) collected in Germany. The antioxidant activity of an aqueous extract of the species was evaluated in vitro by analysing its ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] cation scavenging activity and total phenolic content. The study led to the detection of a moderate antioxidant activity: 1 mg of the extract was equivalent to 84.56 ± 7.93 µg of ascorbic acid. The total phenolic content in 1 mg of the extract was equivalent to 356.44 ± 9.56 µg of ferulic acid used as a standard. These results have indicated for the first time potential importance of B. moravicum in searching for novel antioxidant agents.