Bryophytes sesquiterpenes

Out of several hundred species of bryophytes screened only three species gave consistent results in our bioassay and the extracts derived from these were fractionated In order to isolate constituent(s) responsible for their bioactivity. Coincidentally the bioactive compounds encountered in all three species were found to be sesquiterpenes. 

In North America and Europe, it has long been known that some occupational allergies are associated with handling of wood on which epiphitic liverworts grow. The hapten of this allergy is a sesquiterpene lactone, (—)-frullanolide (338), isolated from Frullania tamarisci ssp. tamarisci, or ( + )-frullanolide (339) from F. dilatata 14,18, 30, 32,37,175, 255, 287). The isolation of these compounds represented the first discovery in bryophytes of compounds with biological activity in humans. The eudesmanolides (349) and (352) and the eremophilanolide (322) also caused intense allergies. Patients sensitive to Frullania species are all sensitive to at least one of the lactones isolated from F. dilatata 30). 

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