Liverwort Lunularia Cruciata Research Articles

Surviving adversity: Exploring the presence of Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. on metal-polluted mining waste.

The tailings dump of Barraxiutta (Sardinia, Italy) contains considerable concentrations of heavy metals and, consequently, is scarcely colonized by plants. However, wild populations of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. form dense and healthy-looking carpets on this tailing dump. L. cruciata colonizing the tailing dump was compared with a control population growing in a pristine environment in terms of: (i) pollutant content, (ii) photochemical efficiency, and (iii) volatile secondary metabolites in thalli extracts. L. cruciata maintained optimal photosynthesis despite containing considerable amounts of soil pollutants in its thalli and had higher sesquiterpene content compared to control plants. Sesquiterpenes have a role in plant stress resistance and adaptation to adverse environments. In the present study, we propose enhanced sesquiterpenes featuring Contaminated L. cruciata as a defence strategy implemented in the post-mining environment.

Biotransformation of Perrottetin F by Aspergillus niger: New Bioactive Secondary Metabolites

Biotransformation of bis-bibenzyl perrottetin F (1), isolated from the liverwort Lunularia cruciata by Aspergillus niger, has been investigated. New metabolites (2-4) have been isolated using reversed phase semipreparative HPLC and their structures were established to be 8-hydroxyperrottetin F, C-7-C-8 cleaved product, and perrottetin F 6’-sulfate using 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR and UV spectroscopy. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of these compounds were also evaluated. Given the suggested cytotoxic properties of the parent compound, antiproliferative activity against healthy human lung fibroblasts (MRC5) and human lung carcinoma (A549) of three metabolites were evaluated revealing their lower cytotoxic properties in comparison to the starting compound - perrottetin F. The antimicrobial properties of these compounds were also evaluated, with the inhibitory activity against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Staphylococcus aureus determined between 100 µM and 450 µM. The metabolites showed remarkable ability to inhibit synthesis of bacterial quorum-sensing signal molecules such as short chain acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). Therefore, biotransformation method represents fast and effective tool for obtaining new bioactive structures.

Biological effects from environmental pollution by toxic metals in the “land of fires” (Italy) assessed using the biomonitor species Lunularia cruciata L. (Dum)

The liverwort Lunularia cruciata was collected from the town of Acerra, in the heart of the so-called ‘Land of Fires’ a large area in the eastern part of Campania region of Italy affected by burning of waste and fraudulent dumping and one of the vertices of the “Italian Triangle of Death” so said for the high incidence and mortality from tumors. The data obtained from these samples were compared with samples collected in two other sites representing two different environmental conditions. The soil below the samples, and gametophytes, were collected and analyzed for the concentration of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V. DNA damage, Reactive Oxygen Species production and localization, activity of antioxidant enzymes and presence of chelating molecules were investigated. All biomarkers provided an answer closely related to the pollution conditions at the 3 sites. We discuss the data considering the possibility of using these biological changes as environmental pollution biomarkers. Finally, it is underlined the importance of phytochelatins due to of their specificity for metal pollution.

Comparison of pharmacological properties and phytochemical constituents of in vitro propagated and naturally occurring liverwort Lunularia cruciata

BackgroundStudy of phytochemicals and pharmacological properties of bryophytes has been neglected for a long time because of the three main reasons i.e. (i) difficulty in collection in large amount for analysis; (ii) their availablility only in particular season and (iii) their restricted geographic distribution. So, the aim of this work was to propagate Lunularia cruciata under in vitro condition for comparing its pharmacological properties and phytocmecial constituents with naturally grown counterparts.MethodAxenic culture of L. cruciata was established by propagating gemmae under in vitro condition. Appropriate culture conditions, media, and the effect of hormones on growth and development were studied. The phytochemical composition was determined by GC-MS analysis and pharmacological activity was evaluated by assessing the antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. For the antioxidant activity ABTS+ [2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)], DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and metal chelating assays were done and for evaluation of the in vitro anti-diabetic activity α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were done.ResultGrowth of L. cruciata was recorded in half strength MS media. Benzylaminopurine (BAP: 2 mg/L) and 1-Naphtheleneacetic acid (NAA: 0.5 mg/L) were the successful hormonal combination. GC-MS analysis revealed the existence of nine key compounds in both in vitro and naturally grown L. cruciata. Result of antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity showed that in vitro grown L. cruciata has a more or less similar antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities as naturally grown ones. This result confirms the possibility of using in vitro grown plants in place of naturally grown plants for research and clinical purposes.

Cytotoxic Activity of Riccardin and Perrottetin Derivatives from the Liverwort Lunularia cruciata.

Seven new bisbibenzyls (1-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata along with one previously known bibenzyl and five known bisbibenzyls. The structures of compounds 1-7 were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data. These newly isolated bisbibenzyls may be divided into two groups, the acyclic bisbibenzyls, perrottetins (1-3), and the cyclic analogues, riccardins (4-7). Besides standard perrottetin and riccardin structures (1 and 4, respectively), they contain phenanthrene (3 and 5), dihydrophenanthrene (2), and quinone moieties (6 and 7), rarely found in natural products. The new compounds 3 and 5, as well as the known riccardin G, exhibited cytotoxic activity against the A549 lung cancer cell line with IC50 values of 5.0, 5.0, and 2.5 μM, respectively.

The biological response chain to pollution: a case study from the "Italian Triangle of Death" assessed with the liverwort Lunularia cruciata.

The liverwort Lunularia cruciata, known for being a species tolerant to pollution able to colonize urban areas, was collected in the town of Acerra (South Italy) to investigate the biological effects of air pollution in one of the three vertices of the so-called Italian Triangle of Death. The ultrastructural damages observed by transmission electron microscopy in specimens collected in Acerra were compared with samples collected in the city center of Naples and in a small rural site far from sources of air pollution (Riccia, Molise, Southern Italy). The biological response chain to air pollution was investigated considering vitality, photosynthetic efficiency, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) induction and gene expression levels, and chlorophyll degradation and related ultrastructural alterations. Particularly, a significant increment in Hsp70 expression and occurrence, and modifications in the chloroplasts' ultrastructure can be strictly related to the environmental pollution conditions in the three sites. The results could be interpreted in relation to the use of these parameters as biomarkers for environmental pollution.

Biostimulation of inoculation with Glomus proliferum and application of humic acid in the in vitro growth of Lunularia cruciata

In this study, we evaluated the growth of the liverwort Lunularia cruciata, inoculated or not with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Glomus proliferum (15 spores per Petri dish), in Strullu-Romand Variant (SRV) medium modified and enriched with humic acid (HA) at different concentrations (0, 20, 40 and 80 mg C L−1), as well as the sporulation of the AMF. We assessed the absolute growth rate (AGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) at inoculation, as well as at 7, 14, 21, 28, 43, 52 and 60 days after inoculation (DAI), whereas we assessed sporulation at 25, 43, 60 and 70 DAI. The main determinant of L. cruciata growth was the presence of AMF. With and without G. proliferum inoculation, respectively, the AGR peaked at 39 and 42 DAI, and the RGR was 0.0474 and 0.0387 cm² cm−2 d−1. Doses of 20 and 80 mg C L−1 of HA had a positive influence on the growth of L. cruciata. With and without HA, respectively, the AGR peaked at 38 and 39 DAI, and the RGR was 0.0484 and 0.0422 cm² cm−2 d−1. The sporulation of G. proliferum, which was as high as 199 spores plate−1, was influenced by HA, especially at 20 and 80 mg C L−1.

Potential allelopathic activity of Sideritis italica (Miller) Greuter et Burdet essential oil

Sideritis italica (Miller) Greuter et Burdet is a widespread Mediterranean Lamiacea. Essential oils from S. italica flowerheads and leaves were extracted by hydrodistillation and then tested for their potential allelopathic activity against Raphanus sativus L. (Magnoliophyta) and the moss Tortula muralis (Hedw.) (Bryophyta), two organisms already tested for allelopathy, and against two bryophytes growing in the same environment as S. italica: the moss Bryum capillare Hedw. and the liverwort Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dum. For R. sativus, we considered seed germination and root and epicotyl growth. For the mosses, we used spore germination and protonemata development, while for the liverwort, we studied thallus and rhizoid growth as well as gemma development. Leaf oil was more active than flowerhead oil. The leaf essential oil caused a decrease in the percentage of seed germination and inhibition of root and epicotyl growth in R. sativus. Furthermore, it caused a strong inhibition of spore germination and protonemal development in both the mosses T. muralis and B. capillare and caused inhibition of gemma development and browning and inhibition of apical growth in the thallus of L. cruciata.

Accumulation, localisation, and toxic effects of cadmium in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata.

Accumulation, tissue and intracellular localisation, and toxic effects of cadmium were investigated in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. The results of analyses carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry on single plants showed that the cadmium accumulation was dose- and time-dependent. Cadmium localisation was assessed by X-ray scanning electron microscopy microanalysis in gemmalings and in the different tissues of the thallus and by X-ray transmission electron microscopy microanalysis at the cellular level. The metal preferentially accumulated in the hyaline parenchyma and at the base of the gemma cups. Inside the cell, cadmium accumulated in the vacuoles and the cell wall. Metal accumulation was accompanied by a concomitant increase in sulphur content within the vacuoles of stressed cells. Gel-permeation chromatography showed that most of the cadmium was associated with a low-molecular-mass fraction eluting at a ratio of elution volume to void volume corresponding to that of phytochelatins. The excess of sulphur deposited in the vacuoles may well have been caused by the stress-induced synthesis of phytochelatins. At the ultrastructural level, sublethal concentrations of cadmium caused alterations of the fine structure of the cells, inducing marked alterations of the chloroplast structure. Cadmium also induced a dose-dependent inhibition of apical thallus growth and gemma germination.

Toxic effects of the thallus of the lichen on the growth and morphogenesis of bryophytes

Abstract In this paper the effects induced by the whole thallus of the lichen Cladonia foliacea on the growth and development of some mosses (Funaria hygrometrica, Bryum dunense, Pleurochaete squarrosa) and the liverwort Lunularia cruciata, have been studied. The main effects induced by Cladonia thalli during periods of co-existence in vitro with gametophytes is a delay in the regeneration of new filaments asssociated with the inhibition of their growth together with a global decrement in the number of gametophores. Other alterations at cytoplasm level are a granular appearance of cytoplasm and many microvesicles in the newly-regenerated filaments, enlarged periplasmic space and changes in chloroplast shape. Current results are compared to previous data obtained with pure substances isolated from C. foliacea thalli.

Luteolin 3′,4′-di- O-β- d-glucuronide and luteolin 3′- O-β- d-glucuronide from Lunularia cruciata

Luteolin 3′,4′-di- O-β- d-glucuronide is the major flavonoid in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. It is accompanied by small amounts of luteolin 3′- O-β- d-glucuronide. Both are new natural products and the former appears to be a unique example of a 3′,4′-diglycosylated flavonoid. Luteolin 4′- O-β- d-glucuronide was isolated as a hydrolysis product of the diglucuronide.

Metabolism of lunularic acid to a new plant stilbene by lunularia cruciata

The time course of metabolism of the C 15-dihydrostilbene carboxylic acid derivative, lunularic acid (V), in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata is reported. One of the primary metabolites of 14C-lunularic acid has been identified as a new natural C 14-dihydrostilbene derivative named lunularin (IX). Lunularin is the simple decarboxylation product of lunularic acid and is a normal constituent of the liverwort. Incorporations of U- 14C- l-phenylalanine, 1- 14C-sodium acetate and 14C-hydrangenol (III) into lunularin by L. cruciata are also presented. These results establish the previously proposed intermediary role of C 15-stilbene carboxylic acids in the phenylpropanoid-polymalonate pathway to the C 14-stilbene derivatives of plants. Evidence in support of a hypothesis for the photoperiodic control of liverwort growth by control of lunularic acid synthesis is presented. The antifungal activities of lunularic acid and lunularin are compared in spore germination bioassays.

Biosynthesis of lunularic acid—a dihydrostilbene endogenous growth inhibitor of liverworts

Incorporations of U- 14C- l-phenylalanine, 1- 14C-sodium acetate and 14C-hydrangenol (IV) into lunularic acid (I) by the liverwort Lunularia cruciata are reported. The results show, that like other plant stilbene derivatives, lunularic acid can be biosynthesized by the phenylpropanoid-polymalonate pathway. The phenyldihydroisocoumarin, hydrangenol (IV), and/or its isomeric stilbene derivative, hydrangeic acid (VI), are probable intermediates in the biosynthesis of lunularic acid. Although no free or bound hydrangenol or hydrangeic acid could be detected in the liverwort they were found to co-occur with lunularic acid, in an acid labile bound form, in roots of Hydrangea macrophylla. A hypothesis for the photoperiodic control of liverwort growth by control of lunularic acid synthesis is presented.