Biochemistry
In recent years, interest in liverworts on the part of bio-chemical researchers has dramatically increased because many of the compounds isolated from these plants show promising biological activity, including cytotoxicity against certain cancer cell lines, cytotoxic effects to some human tumor cells, and activity against HIV (Asakawa 1998; Lou, Li, and Wang 2002; see Table 1). Chemical extracts derived from various liverwort species also possess piscicidal activity, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal activity, as well as an insect antifeedant, a muscle relaxant, enzyme inhibitory activity, and apoptosis inducing activity (Asakawa 1993, 1995, 1999; Nagashima, Kondoh, Uematsu et al. 2002; Labbé et al. 2005). Yet, despite the potential applications and benefits of bryophytes, the biodiversity and taxonomy of this group of plants remains poorly known in many areas of the globe and only a small percentage of liverworts have been chemically investigated worldwide. The active chemical compounds are found in a cellular inclusion called oil bodies, which are found in no other group of land plants.
Table 1. Examples of biological activity, the active chemical compound(s), and the liverwort species from which they are derived. Modified from Asakawa et al., 2001.
Biological activity |
Chemical compound\s |
Liverwort |
Anti-HIV activity |
Cyclic bis(bibenzyl) dimmers) |
Blasia pusila |
Cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells (Human leukemia cells) |
Kaurene-type diterpenoids |
Jungermannia truncata |
Cytotoxicity against KB cells |
4-epi-arbusculin A |
Frullania obscura |
Cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines |
8,9-seco-kaurane |
Lepidolaena taylorii |
Increase coronary blood flow |
Marchantin A |
Marchantia |
Anti-microbial activity |
Marchantin A |
Marchantia |
Anti-fungal activity |
Muscicolone |
Frullania muscicola |
Plant growth inhibitor |
Lunularic acid |
Lunularia cruciata |
Insect antifeedant activity |
Plagiochiline A |
Plagiochila |
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