In recent time bryophytes are gaining attention in terms of their unique phytochemistry. They can generate a wide range of bioactive phytochemicals. Though many of the bryophytes have been evaluated for this aspect yet majority of them are unexplored regarding their phytochemistry and bioactive potential. Hence, in present attempt 2 commonly growing species of bryophytes, viz., Plagiochasma appendiculatum (thalloid liverwort) and Sphagnum fimbriatum (moss) were evaluated for their phytochemical profiling using Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium colorimetric methods. While antioxidant activity of selected species was evaluated by DPPH and NOSA. It was found that these species have higher levels of total phenols and flavonoids and have good antioxidant potential. Further, to check their possible role as antimicrobial agents, the plant extracts were tested against selected fungal and bacterial strains. The results suggested that these 2 bryophyte species have substantial antifungal and antibacterial activities. Based on this study, these plants appear as a good contender to evaluate further for future herbal formulations.

The bryophytes consist of liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, among which the liverworts are quite different in having cellular oil bodies and contain numerous terpenoids, acetogenins, quinones, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, etc. These metabolites exhibit interesting biological activity such as allergenic response, insecticide, cytotoxic, neurotrophic, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV actions, etc. Though several bioactive compounds have been isolated in many liverworts, yet most of the liverworts have been unexplored till date regarding their phytochemistry. The ability of liverworts to generate a wide range of important phytochemicals makes them a hoard of bioactive compounds. In the past, a few species of bryophytes have been evaluated against a few viruses and interesting results were obtained that showed their role as an immunity enhancer against viral infection. The phytoconstituents found in liverworts and mosses can be useful to increase human immunity against a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Keeping this in view, one of the most developed and robust metabolomics technologies, Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) was used to estimate the various phytoconstituents found in a commonly growing thalloid liverwort, Plagiochasma appendiculatum, and moss Sphagnum fimbriatum . The obtained profiles were appraised for their bioactive potential and probable role as antiviral agents.

Bryophytes have historically been employed as verdant medicine in China, Native America and India. Phenolics, glycosides, fatty acids, other rare aromatic compounds and Terpenoids found in bryophytes may help prevent cancer and other chronic disorders. Liverworts have historically been utilized in traditional medicine and also as immu-nomodulators or immunostimulants. Diterpenoids, Lipophilic mono-, sesqui- and aromatic compounds assisting to the biological activities of liverworts. For their biological functions more than 220 aromatic compounds and 700 terpenoids and other chemicals discovered in liverworts scrutinized for their pharmacological, cytotoxic, immunostimulant and auto-immune efficacies.

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