Collection, Identification, and Evaluation of Moss Species for Antibacterial Properties at Kennedy Reservation Union
Faiqa Ali
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology
Major: Biology
Faculty Research Mentor: Sasmita Mishra
Abstract:
Bryophytes, including mosses, are nonvascular plants with unique phytotherapeutic properties. For centuries, bryophytes have been used in traditional medicine in many cultures on different continents. Properties in mosses such as antibacterial, antifungal, insect antifeedant, and molluscicidal activities are primarily phytotherapeutic properties due to the vast array of bioactive compounds such as benzenoids, bibenzyls, bis(bibenzyl)s, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and derivatives of fatty acids. In this study, we evaluated antibacterial properties in seven different moss species collected from the undisturbed habitat of Kennedy Reservation in Union, NJ. Before assessing the antibacterial properties of our collected mosses, we identified them using standard databases such as iNaturalist. The antibacterial properties of our collected moss species were tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis using the disc diffusion method. The aerial parts of the mosses were processed using 80% methanol. The seven different moss species identified were Hygroamblystegium varium, Anomodon minor, Orthotrichum stellatum, Hypnum cupressiforme, Atrichum selwynii, Orthodontium lineare, and Oxyrrhynchium hians. The extracts from H. varium, A. selwynii, and O. hians were effective against E. coli. On the other hand, S. epidermis was sensitive to extracts from O. stellatum, H. varium, A. selwynii, O. lineare, and O. hians. Out of all the mosses, Oxyrrhynchium hians was effective against both E. coli and S. epidermis.Keywords: Antibacterial properties, Mosses, Polyphenols