Evaluation of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. and Entodon plicatus C.Muell. (Bryophyta) from Rajasthan, India

Plants are the ultimate source of drugs against many communicable diseases since time immemorial. Multitudinous drugs have been obtained from countless plant species. However, invariably angiosperms were the preferred choice of most of the workers and other plant groups remain somewhat unexplored in this direction. Hence, the aim of the present study was to examine the phytochemicals, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of two such neglected mosses (bryophyta), Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. and Entodon plicatus C. Muell. (Bryopsida). In preluded phytochemical analysis cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, anthroquinone, terpenoids, tannins, phenolic, proteins, fats and fixed oils were observed by using standard tests. It was found that E. plicatus contains more amount of phytochemicals than H. involuta. The antioxidant activity of both the plants was also determined according to standard protocols and appealing results were found. Comparative analysis was done for the activity of Catalase, Peroxidase, Ascorbate peroxidase, Glutathione reductase and Superoxide dismutase and interesting observations were made. Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts of both the plants was evaluated against Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus and Escherichia coli by using the Agar well diffusion method. Extract of H. involuta showed a greater inhibitory activity than Entodon plicatus. Bacillus spp. (gram+ve) were found more affected than E. coli (gram-ve).