Antimicrobial Activity of Methanol Extracts of Mosses from Serbia

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of methanol extracts of the mosses Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. Ex Brid.) Mitt. (Hylocomiaceae), Palustriella commutata (Hedw.) Ochyra (Amblystegiaceae), Homalothecium philippeanum (Spruce) Schimp. (Brachytheciaceae), Anomodon attenuatus (Hedw.) Huebener (Anomodontaceae), Rhytidium rugosum (Hedw.) Kindb. (Rhytidiaceae), Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp. (Hylocomiaceae), Dicranum scoparium Hedw. (Dicranaceae), and Leucobryum glaucum (Hedw.) Ångstr. (Leucobryaceae), were tested against six bacterial and seven fungal species by microdilution and disc diffusion methods. The extract of A. attenuatus possessed the highest antibacterial activity (MIC of 1.25–5.0 mg/ml and MBC of 2.5–5.0 mg/ml), while L. glaucum extract showed the lowest activity (MIC of 20.0–25.0 mg/ml and MBC of 25.0 mg/ml). The best antifungal activity was obtained from P. schreberi extract (MIC of 0.5 mg/ml and MFC of 2.5–5.0 mg/ml, while the lowest antifungal potential was obtained from A. attenuatus (MIC 2.5–5 mg/ml and MFC 10 mg/ml). The extracts proved to be more active against Gram (+) bacteria than Gram (−) and showed strong antifungal activity.