Antarctic bryophyte Sanionia uncinata (HEDW.) Loeske, Amblystegiaceae, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and acetylcholinesterase activities

Abstract

Sanionia uncinata, or Sickle-leaved-Hook-moss, is a cosmopolitan pleurocarpous moss composing the Antarctic Peninsulae biodiversity, primordially forming dense mats over rocks. The species was collected in 24 different spots located at King George Island and was processed to obtain 24 ethanolic extracts (ADS#) by a serial-24h-maceration, which were prospected for antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activities by using in vitro tests. Alien material was removed from the non-sterilized plant samples before being submitted for extraction. It was observed that extracts collected in different spots showed different biological activities. Extracts ADS04(10.66±0,17mm) and ADS14(11.37±0,11mm) were active against Staphylococcus aureus, according to the diffusion in bioautography assay. They showed significant antioxidant activity and inhibited AChE; the cytotoxicity observed to the human breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 were higher than in normal cell line MCF-10A. ADS04 was 7.62 times more cytotoxic to MCF-7, and ADS14 was 2.03 times more cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 than to MCF-10A. The extracts showed similar cytotoxicity between PC-3, a human prostate cancer cell line, and MCF-10A. Sanionia uncinata extracts are a vital potential source of biologically active compounds, particularly ADS04 and ADS14, including further prospection on eventual bryophyte’s endophytic fungi.

Key words
acetylcholinesterase inhibition; antibacterial activity; bryophyte; bioautography; cytotoxicity; moss