Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
NOSTOC MUSCORUM
C. AGARDH, 1812
Phylum: Cyanobacteria Class: Cyanophyceae
Order: Nostocales Family: Nostocaceae
Distribution: Europe, Southwest Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Habitat: Freshwater and terrestrial environments
Description: This free-living ilamentous species has Gram-negative, green-
brown-colored cells that are phototrophic, atmospheric-nitrogen ixers.
These organisms form spores under desiccation conditions.
Compounds and activities: The bioactive compounds isolated from this species
are poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, nostocyclamide, chlorinated nostocarboline, and
β-carbolines. While the chlorinated nostocarboline possesses antiplasmo-
dial (antimalarial) activity, β-carboline alkaloids have played a key role in
the pharmacology of indigenous hallucinogenic drugs (Mallick et al., 2010).
R
O
O
O
O
CH
3
N
Cl
+
O
O
H
OH
poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate
nostocyclamide
+
CH
3
N
Cl
N
H
H
chlorinated nostocarboline
beta carbolines
