Antibacterial activity and GC MS analysis of Notothylas indica Kashyap

Abstract

Bryophytes form a diverse assemblage of embryophytes that lack vascular tissue. They are small in size but are the second largest group of terrestrial plants after angiosperms. They are the least studied group among plants mainly due to small size, less availability of biomass, lack of taxonomic knowledge and difficulty in identifying taxa. Bryophytes are poikilohydric forms and maintain a stable microclimate that support growth of small animals and microbes. They prevent soil erosion and maintain soil moisture. Bryophytes have several economic importance. They are now recognized to be store house of biochemicals having many bioactivities. Genus Notothylas belongs to the group Anthocerotophyta and have over 23 accepted species, with the highest species diversity in the Indian subcontinent. The present study deals with phytochemical extraction from dried biomass of N. indica, assessing the antibacterial activity of extract and GC MS analysis to elucidate the volatile compounds that may offer the antibacterial effect. The plant was powdered and solvent extracted sequentially using soxhlet extraction apparatus with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Among the extracts, methanol fraction showed antibacterial activity against all the tested strains of bacteria with highest zone of inhibition 16 mm against Bacillus subtilis. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of over 215 volatile compounds with about 12 having reported antibacterial activities. Thiophene derivatives are common antibacterial agents and in N. indica, six derivatives of thiophene were seen. Other compounds with known antimicrobial activity include (z)-2 methyl-2-butenoic acid methyl ester, 2,4-pentaedione, Ethanone 1-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-, Tridecanal, 2(5H)-Furanone-5 methyl-, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester and 2 pentadecanone. There may be more compounds that are potential antimicrobial agents, many might be new to plant world. Further work include isolation and purification of antimicrobial compounds and confirmation of its origin from bryophyte.