title: Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of plants from New Zealand's subantarctic islands.
abstract: A total of 86 species of bryophytes, lichens and vascular plants were collected from New Zealand's subantarctic Campbell and Auckland Islands, including 18 subantarctic endemic species. Extracts of these species have been screened for antimicrobial activity and toxicity towards a P388 cell line. Of the main taxonomic groups collected, the proportion of extracts with some biological activity was highest for liverworts (25/29), intermediate for flowering plants (17/26) and lowest for mosses and horn worts (4/22). Extracts of six species showed repeatable, high biological activity warranting further investigation. The cytotoxicity of Ranunculus pinguis was due to the presence of ranunculin.
authors.affiliation: Plant Extracts Research Unit, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Ltd., Department of Chemistry, University of Otago.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lorimer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barns
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tangney