Growth, terpenoid production and antibacterial activity of an in vitro culture of the liverwort Fossombronia pusilla.

In vitro cultures of the liverwort, Fossombronia pusilla, have been ititiated from spores. They grew well on Gamborg B5 medium supplemented with 2% saccharose and 12.5 micrograms/l vitamin B12. Undifferentiated cultures were obtained on Knop mineral solution with 4% glucose. The cultures produced the same constituents as collected material. Perrottetianal A and B, known substances from liverworts were isolated and characterized by spectroscopic methods as well as alpha-(-)-santonin. A hitherto unknown diterpene dialdehyde-8-hydroxy-9-hydroperrottetianal A--could also be characterized. Furthermore, 7 terpenes were identified by GC/MS. A petrol ether extract and the isolated terpenes exerted antibacterial activity.