SESQUITERPENOIDS AND CYCLIC BIS(BIBENZYLS) FROM THE PAKISTANI LIVERWORT PLAGIOCHASMA APPENDICULATUM

Abstract

  The Pakistani liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum biosynthesizes not only sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, β-caryophyllene and cuparene but also macrocyclic bis(bibenzyls), marchantins A, B and C which have been isolated from some Marchantia species. Their structures were identified by comparison of spectral data with those of authentic samples. This is the first isolation and identification of β-caryophyllene and marchantins A-C from the Plagiochasma species. The occurrence of marchantin series in both Plagiochasma and Marchantia species is very important in determining the evolutionary ladder of both the Aytoniaceae and the Marchantiaceae.