Screening of Antimicrobial and Antioxidative Potential of Selected Eastern Himalayan Mosses

The present study was aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of some mosses [Octoblepharum albidum, Hyophila involuta, H. perannulata, Campylopus introflexus, Syrrhopodon subconfertus, Erythrodontium julaceum and Sematophyllum subhumile] collected from different altitudes of Eastern Himalaya on Gm+ and Gm- bacteria. The antioxidative potential of these genera against 2, 2-Diphenyle-1-pycril-hydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) was also measured to assess their pharmacological importance. Antimicrobial assay was carried out by considering the zone of Inhibition (ZOI) through agar well diffusion method after extraction with two solvent systems (aquous and hydro-ethanol). Bacillus subtilis (B), Staphylococcus aureus (S), Escherichia coli (E) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K) were used for experimentation. The percent inhibition of methanolic DPPH by plant extracts was measured spectrophotometrically. The free radical scavenging activities were examined and expressed in comparison with Vitamin C. Among seven genera studied, S. subconfertus showed antimicrobial activity both on Gm+ and Gm- bacteria although their percentage of DPPH reduction was quite less in all the tested concentrations. In contrast, E. julaceum exhibited dose-dependent-antimicrobial activity on Gm+ and E. coli bacteria and also had appreciable antioxidant property. Therefore, it can be concluded that the antimicrobial potential is not indicative of the antioxidative potential of the respective genera. However, the presence of an important species-specific active compound or ensemble of many active compounds or their relative concentrations might be responsible for their efficacy against bacteria. Thus, survey on Himalayan bryoflora was the primary effort on the way to understand their therapeutic application and for formulation of nutraceuticals.