GC-MS Analysis of a Fragrant Epiphyllous Liverwort Leptolejeunea balansae from Western Ghats, India

A fragrant epiphyllous liverwort was found on the leaves of Atuna indica, an endangered tree during a forest trip and the specimen identified as Leptolejeunea balansae Steph., GC-MS analysis of the species were done to identify the components behind the smell and antimicrobial studies were conducted to know the possibility of a mutualism. Anisole p-ethyl was identified as the factor causing the fragrance and no antimicrobial activities were recorded for the studied concentrations. The sweet fragrance from natural resources like bryophytes should have myriad applications in perfumery industry.