Comparison of antimicrobial potentiality of the purified terpenoids from two moss species Thuidium tamariscellum (C. Muell.) Bosch. & Sande-Lac and Brachythecium buchananii (Hook.)A. Jaeger

Abstract

Mosses are small nonvascular spore bearing land plants distributed throughout the temperate and tropical parts of the world. There are approximately 14,500 species which constitutes around 75% among the bryophyte species. They are commonly found in moist shady locations. The species originated as early as the Permian period and more than 100 species have been recorded from fossils of the Paleogene and Neogene periods.1 Mosses perform various important ecological roles such as filtering and retaining water, stabilizing the ground and removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Many moss species were reported to possess unique natural products or secondary metabolites such as phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and other aromatic compounds with therapeutic potentialities. Historically, the therapeutic features of herbals are the concept of doctrine of signatures. Bryophytes form the basement of Chinese medicinal treatment. For example, liverwort was used to cure hepatic disorders, Polytrichum commune induce women’s hair growth. Gaddi tribes of Himachal Pradesh, used Plagiochasma appendiculatum for treating skin diseases, Targionia hypophylla used by Irular tribec of Attappady to cure skin diseases due to resembles of thallus to the warty surface of the diseased region and Frullania ericoides, liverwort for hair-related applications by tribal people of South India. Species like Sphagnum, Barbula, Bryum, Octeblepharum and Fontinalis are used to treat different diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, fever, lung diseases, infections, wounds and skin prone diseases.1 The aqueous extract of the three mosses like Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergonella cuspidate and Hypnum mammillatum showed potent antioxidant activity.2,3 The species like Polytrichum commune were used as antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agent and boiled with tea for treating the cold. Rhodobryum giganteum is another species traditionally used to treat diseases like cardiovascular diseases or angina.1