Antibacterial properties of thalloid liverworts Marchantia polymorpha L., Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dum. and Pellia endiviifolia (Dicks.) Dumort

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of three thalloid liverworts, Marchantia polymorpha, Conocephalum conicum and Pellia endiviifolia and bis-bibenzyl marchantin A, the most dominant compound in the methanol extract of M. polymorpha, have been investigated in this research. 1H-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the M. polymorpha and P. endiviifolia extracts of liverwort contain terpenes, oils, sugars and bis-bibenzyls, while these specific macrocyclic compounds were absent in the C. conicum extract. The antimicrobial potential was tested on eight bacterial strains. Antimicrobial effects of extracts and marchantin A were observed against Gram-positive bacteria, while they showed no effect against Gram-negative bacteria in both methods used – well diffusion and broth microdilution.