543 Article Info Article history Received 16 March 2022 Revised 4 May 2022 Accepted 5 May 2022 Published Online 30 June 2022 Keywords Bryophytes Liverworts Phytochemistry Antiviral Antioxidant Phytochemical profiling and bioactive potential of Plagiochasma rupestre (J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Steph., a thalloid liverwort Rimjhim Sharma, Swati Singh, Supriya Joshi, Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju*, Sharad Vats and Afroz Alam  Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali-304022, Rajasthan, India *Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA Abstract The SARS-C0V-2 pandemic is causing mayhem on people all over the world. Although, immunization is progressing quickly, its effectiveness against new variants is unknown. The virus has proven to be exceedingly resistant to treatments, and no drugs have been demonstrated to be totally effective against SARS-COV-2 antiviral. However, a few vaccines have been produced, but best option for now is to adopt preventive steps for now and future as well. In general, the use of herbs is emerging as the best ploy among all preventive measures to enhance the immunity as they have great antiviral potential and antioxidant properties. Bryophytes especially (liverworts) are well known to contain a variety of potentially beneficial compounds such as terpenoids, quinones, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, etc. In recent past, different liverwort extracts and isolated chemicals have demonstrated antibacterial, antiviral, and cytotoxic effects; highlighting the potential of liverworts as herbal treatments and chemical manufacture for application in a variety of goods. However, due to their small size, difficulties in collection, and identification, the bulk of liverworts remain unknown, particularly in India. In this light, an attempt has been made to screen a commonly growing liverwort, Plagiochasma rupestre (J.R. Forst. and G. Forst.) Steph. has been evaluated for its phytochemical profile and bioactivity. Copyright © 2022 Ukaaz Publications. All rights reserved. Email: ukaaz@yahoo.com; Website: www.ukaazpublications.com Annals of Phytomedicine 11(1): 543-548, 2022 Annals of Phytomedicine: An International Journal http://www.ukaazpublications.com/publications/index.php Print ISSN : 2278-9839 Online ISSN : 2393-9885 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.54085/ap.2022.11.1.63 Corresponding author: Dr. Afroz Alam Associate Professor, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali-304022, Rajasthan, India E-mail: afrozalamsafvi@gmail.com Tel.: +91-9415596994 Original Article : Open Access 1. Introduction After Angiosperms, the oldest and the second most diverse category of terrestrial plants is “Bryophytes” (Asakawa et al., 2017). Though, the Bryophytes hold the most integral part of our biodiversity yet, these terrestrial plant group has received much lesser attention on the status of their conservation (Dulger et al., 2005; Ilhan et al., 2006; Ojo et al., 2007; Alam, 2021) have got equal importances in ICUN system (Cleavitt et al., 2005). Ecologically bryophytes perform as a cushion for other vascular plants by conserving water. In humid environments, these morphologically simpler creatures are almost ubiquitous and proliferate in colonies, generating mats. Bryophytes are also referred to as amphibians as they prefer to grow, where water availability is ample (Whitehead et al., 2018). They are classified as cryptogams due to the absence of blooms and seeds (Harris et al., 2008). Their beneficial qualities are ignored and go unnoticed due to high level of ignorance. However, they can be used as radioactivity indicators, bioindicators of air pollution due to heavy metals, pesticides, erosion control and genetic engineering (Glime et al., 2007; Mishra et al., 2014). Ethnotherapeutically, this group has been a blessing in the medicinal world, supplying information about clinically active medications derived from indigenous lower plants that are valuable to humans (Shirsat et al., 2008). However, till now under 10% bryophyte species have been evaluated for their phytochemical profiles (Asakawa et al., 2004; Saini et al., 2021). Based on the study conducted on these plants, it is established that they contain incalculable value of bioactive chemicals. These valuable bioactive secondary metabolites have exhibited a wide spectrum of biological actions, encompassing antibacterial, and antitumor, cytotoxic, cardioprotective, allergy provoking, antiviral and so forth (Asakawa et al., 2017). The SARS-CO-2 pandemic is wreaking havoc around the world. Although, vaccination is progressing at a breakneck pace, its effectiveness against emerging variations is unclear. The virus has turned out be exceptionally robust to therapies, and no medications have been shown to be completely effective against antivirals against SARS-COV-2. Beside, vaccinations have the preferred choice for present and in the future is to adopt preventive precautions. In general, the usage of herbs is emerging as the best suited and viable strategy among all preventive methods to boost immunity due to their high antiviral and antioxidant capabilities (Saini et al., 2021). There are reports on bryophytes, in particular (liverworts), have a high concentration of potentially beneficial compounds such as, phenolic byproducts, flavonoids, acetogenins, lipids and few of the nitrogen containing aromatic compounds and alkaloids and terpenoids ( Noda et al., 1997; Asakawa et al., 2017; Marques et al., 2021). It has also been discovered that the antioxidant properties of some liverworts are like that of vascular plants (Sharma et al., 2015). Researchers from pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries are interested in the antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of plants. Free radicals are thought to be important in the etiology of many illnesses (Campian et al., 2007). Drug and food stability may be reduced as a result of oxidation process. Under both abiotic and