Abstract

The antifungal activity of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) extracts of three bryophyte species, two mosses (Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv., Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) Bruch and Schimp) and a liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha L. ssp. ruderalis Bischl. and Boisselier), grown in nature and in axenic culture was evaluated by microdilution method against five fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium ochrochloron and Trichoderma viride). All the investigated bryophyte extracts have been proved to be active against all fungi tested. In general, extracts made from material grown in the laboratory (in vitro) conditions express better anti-fungal activity comparing to those made from material grown in the nature. Some of the fungi tested react similarly to both extracts.

Key words: Atrichum undulatum, Marchantia polymorpha, Physcomitrella patens, bryophytes, antifungal activity.