Health Benefits of Fern Root

The medicinal application of fern-root is not a novel trend. Our ancestors used them as healthy food content and also for the medicinal herbal ingredient. Ferns have different varieties. Many of the ferns belong to Pteridophyta with different spices and genera.

There are multiple ancient documents have mentioned the benefits of ferns including Samhita texts (Ayurvedic medicine). Enough evidence also indicated that native Chinese doctors recommended ferns to treat various ailments under traditional Chinese medicinal system. Recently ethnobotanical researchers continue their studies in pharmacological properties of ferns. Yet now many research findings supported fern is a rich source of herbal medicinal substances.

Traditional medicinal application of different ferns root or rhizomes

• In traditional medicinal system, rhizomes of A. venustum had used for treating circulatory disorders, diabetes, and liver problems.
• Root decoction of D. quercifolia had recommended treating bowel problems, whereas topical application of water extraction of this fern rhizomes on cuts or wounds accelerate the healing process.
• The required amount of the dried P. aquilinum rhizomes powder is recommended to intake by mixing it with milk to control blood sugar level in diabetic patients.
• O. vulgatum rhizomes paste is externally applied to the wound or eyesores due to its antiseptic effect.
• Nose bleeding or oral bleeding problem can be solved by intake of O. vulgatum rhizomes infusion.
• Drinking of O. vulgatum rhizomes decoction helps to cure heart problems.
• Countries like Malaya traditionally used A. aureum rhizome paste on the external application of wounds and boils to treat them.
• In the Philippine countries, C. barometz rhizomes are used to treat wounds and ulcers.
• The herbal health tea is prepared from the decoctions of P. aquilinum rhizomes.
• The rhizomes of W. unigemmata are used to cure skin diseases.
• Not only rhizomes, but a health tonic is also prepared by combination of leaves and rhizomes mixed and form a paste and traditional herbal experts recommended to mix this paste with lukewarm milk and drink this as a health tonic for 1 month.
• Topical application of paste prepared with P. vittata fern for 15 days help to reduce glandular swellings.

Mechanism of action of Phytochemicals present in Ferns and Ferns root

• Multiple varieties of ferns have different phytochemicals. Maximum phytochemicals have a bioactive property and responsible for different medicinal properties. Certain phytochemicals like flavonoids, phenols, catechins, tannins, β-carotene, vitamins C and E are synergistically worked and therefore give better medical properties than single phytochemicals. Apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, and naringenin are other bioactive phytochemicals also present in the different fern roots.
• Antioxidant: Most of the phytochemicals belongs in Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins have free radical scavenging property. Phytochemicals like caffeic acid and the chlorogenic acid act as hydrogen or electron donors and neutralize the free radicals.
• Rutin and quercetin phytochemicals present in fern roots and rhizome prevent to form chelate metal ions and reduce the oxidative stress.
• Phenolics phytochemicals have anti-mutagenic, anti-cancer properties, as their antioxidant property inhibits carcinogenesis.
• Rutin, flavonoids, and quercetin are the two phytochemicals present in fern roots have potent anti-inflammatory activity. These phytochemicals modulate the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators like cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase and cytokines. Thus the presence of these phytochemicals exerts anti-inflammatory properties.
• Quercetin and naringenin are two ferns root phytochemicals have a bactericidal effect.

Above all, the antioxidant property of these phytochemicals exerts an anti-inflammatory property. Researchers found one of the primary cause of the inflammatory condition is free radicals trigger the release of inflammatory mediators by increasing the production of additional neutrophils and macrophages. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation.

Different dosage forms of Ferns roots

Fern roots and its other plant part often used as a primary ingredient of multi-herbal formulations. Maidenhair fern root is one of such fern variety used in many multi-herbal formulations to treat a variety of diseases. For example:

Brain tonic syrup

Maidenhair fern along with other herbal ingredients like Assyrian Plum, Borage, Celery, Fennel, Marshmallow, Stavesacre, and Honey is the primary ingredient of a brain tonic.

Dental analgesic

Herbal dentistry preparations like oral decoction, mouthwash often prepared in combination with Maidenhair fern, Borage flower, and Liquorice as a dental analgesic.

Anti-hair loss

A herbal lotion prepared with Maidenhair fern and other plant ingredients such as Chinaberry, Indian Gooseberry, Myrrh, Myrtle oil helps to prevent hair fall.

Liver tonic

Licorice, Fenugreek, Marshmallow, Flax, Hyssop, Common Mallow, Stavesacre, Fig, along with Maidenhair fern combination used to prepare a herbal syrup for hepatitis treatment.

Antiasthmatic, and Antitussive

An oral herbal decoction prepared with Maidenhair fern, Liquorice, Hyssop, Flax, Borage, Fig, Orris, Fennel, Stavesacre helps to control asthma and cough trigger.

Uses of Ferns Rott

Anticancer

inhibition of cancer cell lines, such as stomach cancer, prostate cancer, malignant melanoma, and mouse fibroblasts, by crude extracts and several isolated compounds.

Improve Heart Functioning

Platelet aggregation, increase the level of blood, and inflammatory conditions are the primary culprit of cardiac problems. But the fern’s root is a rich source of antioxidative flavonoids along with these they have antiplatelet, lipoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activity, which helps to improve heart functioning.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Infection

The potent antibacterial property of Maidenhair and Adiantum species of fern is effective against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains and prevent infection occurs by the invasion of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio cholera, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus,E.coli, and Helicobacter pylori bacterial infections. All the ferns parts of these species of ferns also effective to show the anti-viral property.

Antiviral

Very limited antimicrobial have anti-viral property. Certain ferns roots like Athyrium acrostichoides, B. orientale, C. fortunei, D. crassirhizoma, O. japonica, Sphaeropteris lepifera, Woodwardia unigemmata, and Woodwardia orientalis are therapeutically used due to their antiviral property.

Anthelmintic

The whole plant parts of Actinopteris radiata L. (a type of fern) has anthelmintic medicinal property.

Jaundice

Inflammation of liver associated with impaired bile secretion leads to jaundice. Leaves and rhizomes of Asplenium adiantum,Ceterach officinarum and whole plant part of Asplenium falcatum are used to treat jaundice. But the wide medicinal properties of these ferns are also effective to treat chronic cough, spleen inflammatory condition, etc.

Dysentery

Both leaves and roots of Botrychium lunaria (L.) are used to control loose motion occurs due to dysentery. Along with this root of Cheilanthes farinosa is recommended to relieve stomach pain.

Pain Symptoms

Lumbago or muscle pain associated with back pain is used to treat with a fern-root variety of Cibotium barometz. 

Gastrointestinal Problems

Dyspepsia, hectic fever, typhoid are common gastrointestinal problems often patient experienced. The rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia has medicinal properties effective to treattyphoid and hectic fever, dyspepsia.

Mild-Moderate Respiratory Disorder

Cough and throat infection are very common upper respiratory tract disorder. Herbal medicine prepared with Rhizome of Schizaea dichotoma fern species often helps to relieve cough and throat infection.

Skin Problems

Eczema often causes skin patches and make the skin rough with inflamed blisters which can cause skin irritation and bleeding. The root of Cheilanthes farinosa is an effective treatment for treating eczema.

Side Effect and Precaution

The identification of medicinal fern is difficult. Therefore, individuals should not use any fern preparation on their own. Certain ferns like male fern are unsafe for oral intake. Only external application for treating the fungal infection can be possible with this herbal ingredient. Side effects of oral intake of such unsafe fern can cause serious side effects like breathing difficulty, headaches, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, convulsions, tremors, heart and lung failure, eye disorders, muscular weakness, coma, temporary or permanent blindness, and death.

References

• A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments
• Medicinal Properties of Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. in Traditional Medicine and Modern Phytotherapy: A Review Article
• A  Review on the Potential Uses of Ferns
• Male Fern