Marchantia polymorpha as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds.

Area of Science:

• Plant biochemistry
• Natural product chemistry
• Pharmacognosy

Background:

• Marchia polymorpha L. (common liverwort) is a globally distributed, easily cultured model plant.
• It belongs to the Marchantiaceae family and is a spore-forming thallose liverwort.
• Its importance in research is growing due to its biological and chemical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diverse secondary metabolites produced by Marchia polymorpha.
• To highlight chemical variability influenced by the plant's geographic origin.
• To summarize the known biological activities of M. polymorpha extracts and compounds.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of chemical constituents and biological activities.
• Analysis of sesquiterpenoids (cuparenes, chamigranes, thujopsanes) and bisbibenzyls.
• Examination of chemical markers and geographic variations.

Main Results:

• Sesquiterpenoids and bisbibenzyls are the major compound classes in M. polymorpha.
• Specific compounds like marchantin A, riccardin D, and perrottetin E were identified.
• Compounds from different geographic locations (Japan, China, Poland, Germany, India) show potential as chemical markers.
• Bisbibenzyls exhibit significant antifungal and antibacterial activities.

Conclusions:

• Marchia polymorpha is a rich source of bioactive sesquiterpenoids and bisbibenzyls.
• Geographic origin significantly impacts the chemical profile of M. polymorpha.
• The identified compounds possess notable antimicrobial properties, suggesting therapeutic potential.