Comparatively little attention has been paid to the bryophytes for use in the human diet or medicine in spite of the presence of 23 000 species globally. Several hundred new compounds have been isolated from the liverworts (Marchantiophyta), and more than 40 new carbon skeletons of terpenoids and aromatic compounds were found. Most of the liverworts studied elaborate characteristic odiferous, pungent, and bitter-tasting compounds, of which many show antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, allergic contact dermatitis, cytotoxic, insecticidal, anti-HIV, plant growth regulatory, neurotrophic, NO production and superoxide anion radical release inhibitory, muscle relaxing, antiobesity, piscicidal, and nematocidal activities. The biological effects ascribed to the liverworts are mainly due to lipophilic sesqui- and diterpenoids, phenolic compounds, and polyketides, which are the principal constituents of their oil bodies. Some mosses and liverworts produce significant levels of vitamin B₂ and tocopherols, as well as prostaglandin-like highly unsaturated fatty acids. The most characteristic chemical phenomenon of the liverworts is that most of the sesqui- and diterpenoids are enantiomers of those found in higher plants. In this review, the chemical constituents and potential medicinal uses of bryophytes are discussed.

中文翻译：

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苔藓植物的化学成分：结构和生物活性

尽管全球范围内存在23000种，但用于人类饮食或医学的苔藓植物却很少受到关注。从地草中分离出了数百种新化合物，并发现了40多个新的萜类化合物和芳香族化合物的碳骨架。大多数地草研究了精心制作的特征性异味，辛辣和苦味化合物，其中许多化合物显示出抗微生物，抗真菌，抗病毒，变应性接触性皮炎，细胞毒性，杀虫剂，抗HIV，植物生长调节，神经营养，NO产生和超氧阴离子。自由基释放抑制，肌肉松弛，抗肥胖，杀菌和杀线虫活性。归于艾蒿的生物学效应主要归因于亲脂性倍半萜和二萜，酚类化合物，和聚酮化合物，这是其油体的主要成分。一些苔藓和地艾可以产生大量的维生素B₂和生育酚，以及前列腺素样的高度不饱和脂肪酸。地藏草最典型的化学现象是大多数倍半萜和二萜类化合物是在高等植物中发现的对映体。在这篇综述中，讨论了苔藓植物的化学成分和潜在的医学用途。