INTRODUCTION:

Herbal medicines have always played a key position in the treatment of different disease human and animals all over the world. In developing country more researchers are working on plant and plant product so recognition of natural product is increasing. Herbal medicine is avital part of both conventional and contemporary system of medicine.¹Bryophytes are autotrophic cryptogams consisting about 25,000 species. Taxonomically, they are divided into four classes, the hornworts (Anthocerotopsida), two classes of the liverworts (Marchantiopsida, Jungermanniopsida) and the mosses (Bryopsida). The life history of bryophytes involves arotation between sporophytic and gametophytic generation that vary in form and function. The real plant is representing by the gametophytic generation, which is the most evolve haploid generation in the whole plant kingdom.²

Conventionally, the term “bryophytes” has been used to describe a paraphyletic assemblage of three phyla, Anthocerotophyta (hornworts), Bryophyta (mosses), and Marchantiophyta (liverworts), whose associations has long been a source of discuss within the technicalsociety.³The division bryophytes include mosses (Bryopsida or Musci), hornworts (Anthocerotopsida or Anthocerotae) and liverworts (Hepaticopsida or Hepaticae) and represent by 14,000 to 15,000 species all over the world. The mosses contain approximately 8000 species, liverworts 6000 species and hornworts 200 species. Some studies assured that these are the second largest group of land plants after angiosperms. In India, bryophytes represent by total 2504 species comprising 17.27% of world bryophytes. In India, mosses represented by 1786 species and 355 genera, liverworts 675 species and 121 genera and hornworts 25 species and 6 genera.⁴

Bryophytes are a small of plants absent of correct vascular tissue. Being small and of insignificant use, bryophytes have been uncared for in systematic investigation. Chemical analysis of active constituents and Phyto-pharmacology of bryophytes came into the field only in the last few decades. With the beginning of modern techniques and methods such as gas chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, high performance liquid chromatography, high performance thin layer chromatography and X-ray crystallography, it has been possible to isolate and structurally elucidate bioactive molecules present in bryophytes.⁵Bryophytes serve as a source of biologically active, naturally occurring material. Antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative potential in liverworts and mosses has been recorded.^6,7All the Pharmacological potential of bryophytes have been presented in Fig:1.

Fig:1 Pharmacological Potential of Bryophytes

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

In this review, information about bryophytes and their therapeutic potential and biochemical properties was gathered via searching different scientific sources like Pub Med, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Springer etc. and related books either online or offline.

AIM OF PRESENT REVIEW:

Information regarding therapeutic property of bryophytes is segregated and not present in well documented form. In the present review, we have been trying to compile information regarding Pharmacological properties of bryophytes.

ETHNO-MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:

An ancient method of determining the medicinal properties of plants is the concept of Paracelsus “doctrine of signatures” which deals with similarity of plant body parts to shape and structure of organ in the human or animal body for which it is corrective. As per above philosophy, liverworts (e.g. Marchantia polymorpha) used to cure hepatic ailments. Similarly, moss like Polytrichum communeis useful in treatment of hair fall so called hair cup moss. In ancient time period women were used to apply on their hair for beautification and cosmetics. ⁸

1. Antioxidant Properties:

Antioxidants are those substances which at low concentration significantly inhibit or delay the oxidation of substrate.⁹Few of the bryophyte species have been studied in context to antioxidant activity. Recent study suggests that some of the liverworts and moss possesses strong anti-oxidative machinery which helps them to survive in the extreme climate and stress condition. Heavy metal, desiccation and ultraviolet radiation have been found to trigger an array of different enzymes in bryophytes.¹⁰Some bryophyte species hyper accumulate metals and some were sequestering the toxic metals. The study conducted on antioxidant activity of the Antarctic mosses Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske and Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L. Sm. var. alpinum has indicated their potential to be used as antioxidants for medicinal and cosmetic purpose^11,12

2. Anticancer properties:

Alcoholic extract of Polytrichum juniperum exhibited inhibitory property against Sarcoma 37 implanted in CAF1 mice.¹³Total no of 168 aqueous and 42 organic extracts of different bryophyte were evaluated for in vitro for anti-proliferative activity on different human gynecological cancer cell lines containing cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, invasive ductal breast carcinoma cells using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A total of 99 extract from 41 species exert ≥25% inhibition of proliferation of at least one of the cancer cells lines at 10μg/ml. More than one extract of Bryophytes like Brachythecium rutabulum, Encalypta streptocarpa, Climacium dendroides, Neckera besseri, Pleurozium schreberi, and Pseudoleskeella nervosa, shown anti-proliferative actvity, Paraleucobryum longifolium was shown maximum activity.¹⁴

The extract of Lepidozia borneensis was found to induce cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line with IC₅₀ value of 47.33±7.37µg/mL. Mainly cell cycle arrest G₀/G₁ occur during 24 hours of treatment. 72 hours after treatment, the cells proportion in G₀/G₁ and G₂-M phases had decreased significantly. Apoptosis occurred during the first 24 hours and significantly increased to 30.8% after 72 hours of treatment.¹⁵The compound ohioensinan isolated from Polytrichum ohioense shows cytotoxicity against 9PS murine leukaemia and MCF-7 human breast tumour cells. Benzonaphthoxanthenones and cinnamoyl bibenzyls derivatives isolated from ethanolic extract of Polytrichum pallidisetum can significantly impede the growth of RPMI-7951 melanoma and U-251glioblastoma multiforme.¹⁶

3. Antibacterial activity:

The antibacterial activity of Asterella angusta (Steph.) was studied against the two-gram negative bacteria namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The aqueous and alcoholic extract was tested against the four bacteria. The maximum antibacterial activity was observed in alcoholic (Ethanolic) extract against¹⁷Banerjee and Sen (1979) also reported the antibacterial activity of methanolic, Ethanolic, ether, acetone extracts of Asterell angusta against Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium phlei and Sarcinalutea.¹⁸

4. Antidiabetic:

Diabetes mellitus describes the metabolic disorder having heterogeneous etiologies which are characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia and abnormal of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism due to impaired in insulin secretion, resistant to insulin action, or both¹⁹Sumira Mukhia et al. studied that liver wort Plagiochasmac ordatum was shown in vitro anti-diabetic potential by α-amylase inhibition assay methods.²⁰

5. Antifungal activity:

It was found that in bioactivity-guided partition of an anti-fungal extract from the liver wort Asterella angusta afforded four bis(bibenzyl)s, asterelin A, asterelin B, 11-O-demethyl marchantin I, and dihydroptychantol A. All bis(bibenzyl)s exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against the common clinical pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans.²¹ Many of the bryophyte species like are also known to show antifungal property.^22,23In another study it was proved that liverwort, M polymorpha, C conicum, W denudata, M himalayensis and F himalayensis possess antifungal potential.²⁴

6. Anti-snake venom:

In case of snake generally anti-venoms are use. Anti-venoms can neutralize toxins. though, there is extensive achievement of conventional treatment, it is still significant to search for other dissimilar venom inhibitors, either synthetic or natural, that could complement or substitute for the action of the traditional antivenom. Thus, in the management of snakebite, the study of herbal antidotes against snake venom is of considerable significance to society²⁵Marcantia polymorpha contain Marchantin A, which is helpful in management of snake bite.²⁶

Table:1 Bryophytes and their Pharmacological Properties²⁷

Sl No	Botanical name	Family	Properties
1	Riccardia Gray. sp.	Aneuraceae	anti-leukemic
2	Plagiochasm aappendiculatum	Aytoniaceae	Skin diseases
3	Reboulia hemisphaerica(L.)	Aytoniaceae	Blotches, haemostasis, external wounds, and bruises
4	Conocephalumconicum (L.)	Conocephalaceae	Antimicrobial, antifungal, antipyretic, antidote, cuts, inflammation, scalds, burns, fractures, snake bites, gallstones
5	Herbertus Gray. sp.	Herbertaceae	Antiseptics, anti-diarrheal, expectorants and astringents
6	Frullania tamarisci (L.)	Jubulaceae	Antiseptic
7	Frullania ericoides	Jubulaceae	head lice (Pediculus humanus), nourish hair
8	Marchantia polymorpha L.	Marchantiaceae	inflammation, diuretics, liver ailments, insect bites, cuts, fractures, snake bites,
9	Marchantia convoluta	Marchantiaceae	Hepatitis, fever and gastric intolerance
10	Marchanti apalmata	Marchantiaceae	Acute inflammation
11	Marchanti apaleacea	Marchantiaceae	Skin tumefaction, hepatitis, antipyretic
12	Dumortier ahirsuta	Marchantiaceae	Antibiotics
13	Pallavicinia	Pallaviciniaceae	Antimicrobial agent
14	Plagiochila	Plagiochilaceae	Anti-leukemic, anti-microbial, perfumes
15	Plagiochilabeddomei Steph.	Plagiochilaceae	Wound healing
16	Riccia L. sp.	Ricciaceae	Thallus part is for ringworms in children.
17	Targionia hypophylla L.	Targioniaceae	With leaves of Actiniopteris radiata for scabies of children
Mosses
18	Cratoneuronfilicinum	Amblystegiaceae	Heart disorders
19	Leptodictyumriparium	Amblystegiaceae	Antipyretic and uropathy
20	Philonotis fontana	Bartramiaceae	Burn pain, adenopharyngitis, antipyretic
21	Philonotis Bridel sp.	Bartramiaceae	burns, adenopharyngitis, antipyretic and antidote
22	Plagiopusoederi	Bartramiaceae	Sedative, epilepsy
23	Bryum argenteum	Bryaceae	Antidote, antipyretic, antifungal
24	Rhodobryum giganteum	Bryaceae	angina, anti-hypoxic, diuretic, antipyretic, and antihypertensive
25	Rhodobryum roseum	Bryaceae	cardiovascular diseases and sedative
26	Leucobryum bowringii	Dicranaceae	Analgesic
27	Oreasmartiana	Dicranaceae	pain, haemostasis, wounds, epilepsy, menorrhagia, neurasthenia
28	Ditrichum pallidum	Ditrichaceae	Convulsions, particularly in infants
29	Entodonflavescens	Entodontaceae	Earache, cold
30	Fissidensnobilis	Fissidentaceae	Hair growth and diuretic
31	Funaria hygrometrica	Funariaceae	haemostasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, bruises, skin infection
32	Fontinalis antipyretica.	Fontinalaceae	Fever
33	Taxiphyllumtaxirameum	Hypnaceae	Used for external wounds, haemostasis
34	Aerobryumlanosum	Meteoriaceae	burns
35	Mnium cuspidatum.	Mniaceae	Haemostasis, nose bleeding
36	Plagiomnium acutum	Mniaceae	Anti-infective and swellings
37	Octoblepharum albidum	Octoblepharaceae	Used as febrifuge and anodyne
38	Dawsonia superba	Polytrichaceae	diuretics, hair tonic
39	Polytrichum commune	Polytrichaceae	Haemostasis, wound healing, antipyretic, antidote, kidney and gall bladder stones, improve labour
40	Polytrichum juniperinum	Polytrichaceae	Prostate, urinary difficulties and skin disease
41	Pogonatum macrophyllum	Polytrichaceae	Inflammation and fever, diuretic, laxative and haemostatic
42	Barbula unguiculata	Pottiaceae	Fever and body aches
43	Barbula indica	Pottiaceae	Menstrual pain and intermittent fever
44	Hyophilaattenuata	Pottiaceae	cold, cough and neck pain
45	Wei-siaviridula	Pottiaceae	cold and fever
46	Sphagnum sericeum	Sphagnaceae	wounds skin infections, insects’ bites, haemorrhoids and to treat eye diseases
47	Sphagnum teres	Sphagnaceae	eye diseases
48	Haplocladiummicrophyllum	Thuidiaceae	Cystisis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia and fever
Hornworts
49	Ceratophyllum demersum L.	Ceratophyllaceae	Purgative, astringent, constipation, antipyretic

7. Wound healing:

Kumar et al. reported that Plagiochasma appendiculatum use by the people of Gaddi tribe of Himachal Pradesh India, for the treatment of cuts, wounds and burns²⁸

8. Antihypertensive:

Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwaegr) Par. Contain p-Hydroxy cinnamic Acid, 7-8- Dihydroxy coumarin and helpful for treat cardiovascular problem and shows antihypertensive action.²⁹

CONCLUSION:

Practice of medicinal plants has been appreciated due to low cost and lesser side effects. Herbal drugs have been used successfully in the treatment of various ailments over the last few decades. Development of drug resistance in pathogens is one of the major problems in medicine. Natural drugs obtained from plant source can be responsible for major therapeutic potential. Therefore, to meet the potential future demand for various bioactive compounds used as drugs, a new production system is required significantly. Bryophyte, a little and in fact unimportant collection of plants may serve as a basis of some distinctive biologically active molecules. Large number of the bryophytes are significant source of medicine, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent. Different liverworts and mosses can replace the conventional synthetic fungicides used in crop protection especially in the countries where fugal invasion in the crop fields is a common phenomenon.

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Received on 05.01.2020 Modified on 30.02.2020

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2021; 14(2):1099-1103.

DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2021.00198.0