Secondary Metabolites Of Two Liverworts

The bryophytes are evolutionarily between algae and pteridophytes with no vascular tissues, which are further morphologically divided into three phyla, Hepaticae, Musci, and Anthocerotae. Though they’re short and small with uncomplicated structures, they produce various secondary metabolites. Oil bodies are characteristically possessed by liverworts, which can synthesize and store said metabolites. Liverworts spread worldwide. There are about 6000 species of liverworts across the world, and over 800 species in China. It’s indicated that liverworts are great sources for bioactive natural products.In this thesis, two Chinese liverworts, Diplophyllum taxifolium Dum. from Mount Changbai in Jilin Province and Radula sumatrana Steph. from Mount Fanjing in Guizhou Province, were chemically investigated, yielding a total of 33 secondary metabolites, which were isolated with conventional chromatography and HPLC, and were identified on the basis of MS, NMR, CD and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses.20 metabolites were obtained from D. taxifolium, including 2 new ent-prenylaromadendrane-type diterpenoids and 9 new ent-eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids. Their quinone reductase inducing activity were evaluated. From R. sumatrana,12 metabolites were isolated, including 3 new bibenzyl-cannabinoid racemic mixtures,1 new bibenzyl/osamane hybrid racemic mixture and 2 new prenyl bibenzyl racemic mixtures. Their cytotoxicities were evaluated.