Chemical Relationships between Liverworts of the Family Lejeuneaceae (Porellales, Jungermanniopsida)

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to determine the chemical relationships between liverwort species belonging to the Lejeuneaceae family on the basis of sesqui- and diterpenoid composition. GC/MS analysis of the 31 liverwort specimens belonging to the Lejeuneaceae family indicated variability of the chemical composition of terpenoids depending on liverwort species. Each of the analyzed liverworts is characterized by the presence of particular compounds. However, there are some characteristic components, which can be chemical markers of this liverwort family. These are the pinguisane and monocyclofarnesane type sesquiterpenoids, the fusicoccane type diterpenoids, and also the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, isolepidozene. Chemical data also showed the differences among liverworts classified in the two subfamilies, the Ptychanthoideae and Lejeuneoideae. All of the mentioned characteristic components are present in species of the subfamily Ptychanthoideae. On the other hand, among the characteristic components, only beta-pinguisene was detected in Cololejeunea stotleriana, Colura irrorata, and Myriocoleopsis gymnocolea classified in the subfamily Lejeuneoideae (subtribe Cololejeuneinae). The latter component was found to be a marker for members of the subtribe Cololejeuneinae. Neither isolepidozene nor the pinguisanes, fusicoccanes and monocyclofarnesanes were found in Lejeunea topoensis (subfamily Lejeuneoideae). The existence of the chemical polymorphism between both subfamilies is also evident from PCA analysis.