Fig 4 - uploaded by Baskaran Xavier Ravi
Content may be subject to copyright.
Color illustrations of medicinal pteridophytes: (a) Equisetum ramosissimum; (b) Asplenium bulbiferum; (c) Pteris semipinnata; (d) Woodwardia orientalis; (e) Lygodium flexuosum; (f) Pteris ensiformis Note: for interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article

Color illustrations of medicinal pteridophytes: (a) Equisetum ramosissimum; (b) Asplenium bulbiferum; (c) Pteris semipinnata; (d) Woodwardia orientalis; (e) Lygodium flexuosum; (f) Pteris ensiformis Note: for interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article

Source publication
Article
Full-text available
The aim of this review was to explore the pharmacological activity of early tracheophytes (pteridophytes) as an alternative medicine for treating human ailments. As the first vascular plants, pteridophytes (aka, ferns and fern allies) are an ancient lineage, and human beings have been exploring and using taxa from this lineage for over 2000 years b...

Contexts in source publication

Context 1
... (Fig. 3e) were shown to have cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects due to the presence of bioflavonoids ( Lee and Lin, 1988;Silva et al., 1995;Sun et al., 1997;Lee et al., 1999;Lin et al., 2000; Su et al., 2000;Chen JJ et al., 2005;Gayathri et al., 2005;Woo et al., 2005;Gao et al., 2007;Shi et al., 2008;Tan et al., 2009), while Pteris semipinnata (Fig. 4c) and P. multifida have cytotoxic effects due to the presence of diterpenes ( Woerdenbag et al., 1996;Li et al., 1998Li et al., , 1999). Several authors have studied the anti-cancer potentials of ferns and lycopods, namely P. aquilinum, Davallia cylindrical, Stenoloma chusanum, Selaginella frondosa, Thelypteris torresiana, P. vittata, ...
Context 2
... Hwang (1999), the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a prominent infectious disease agent worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa, causing liver cirrhosis and cancer. Blechni rhizome, known for its antiviral (HBV) activity, is prepared from the roots and stems of various ferns including B. orientale, D. crassirhizoma, O. japonica, Woodwardia orientalis (Fig. 4d), Woodwardia unigemmata (Fig. 5b), Athyrium acrostichoides, Sphaeropteris lepifera, and C. fortunei. Likewise, an herbal mixture of Woodwardia species with some other flowering plants has shown anti-HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) activity. Lygodium flexuosum (Dhiman, 1998) and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (Vasudeva, 1999) have shown ...
Context 3
... D. quercifolia (Dixit and Vohra, 1984), A. aureum (Defilpps et al., 1988), Selaginella bryopteris (Dhiman, 1998), Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. flexuosum, A. venustum (Vasudeva, 1999, Adiantum caudatum (Burkill, 1996), Christella parasitica (Gogoi, 2002), Huperzia serrata ( Fig. 5d) (Zangara, 2003), S. tamariscina ( Woo et al., 2005), P. ensiformis (Fig. 4f) ( Wu et al., 2005), P. multifida ( Lee and Lin, 1988), Dryopteris sp. ( Otsuka et al., 1972), Cheilanthes farinosa ( Yonathan et al., 2006), Cyathea gigantea ( Fig. 3c) (Benjamin and Manickam, 2007;Madhukiran and Ganga Rao, 2011), Blechnum occidentale (No- nato et al., 2009), D. mariesii (Chang et al., 2007b), Microsorum scolopendria ...
Context 4
... ( Lee et al., 2009), and various species (Maruzzella, 1961;McCutcheon et al., 1995). Furthermore, several studies (May, 1978;Dixit and Vohra, 1984;Dixit, 1992;Verma and Singh, 1995;Manandhar, 1996;Das, 1997;Singh, 1999;Benjamin and Manickam, 2007) have reported the antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activity of Equisetum ramosissimum (Fig. 4a), A. aureum, D. quercifolia, Psilotum nudum (Fig. 5h), Parahemionitis arifolia, Helminthostachys zeylanica, O. gramineum, Tectaria caodunata, S. involvens, S. delicatula, Hypodematium crenatum, Leucostegia immersa, and Solvinia molusta. Singh (1999) documented antibacterial and antifungal activity of Botrychum lanuginosum, Dryopteris ...
Context 5
... whole plants of B. orientale are used in anathematic and typhoid treatments. Fronds of B. orientale ground in cow's milk are used in the treatment of asthma, as antibacterials and anthelmintics, and to improve fertility in women. The whole plant of H. zeylanica is considered an intoxicant, anodyne, and is also used as an aphrodisiac. L. flexuosum (Fig. 4e) is used to cure skin diseases, rheumatism, sprains, scabies, eczema, cut wounds, and rheumatism, and as an expectorant. A paste made from the leaves of N. cordifolia is applied to wounds to stop bleeding. Whole plants of S. bryopteris are used as diuretics, and to treat gonorrhoea (Singh and Upadhyay, 2012). A. capillus-veneris is used ...
Context 6
... In addition, A. caudatum is used to cure jaundice, scabies, abdominal pain, and constipation. The young fronds of A. incisum are used to treat malaria and bronchial diseases, while leaves and rhizomes of A. venustum are thought to cure diabetes, and are used to treat liver problems and circulatory disorders. Leaves of Asplenium bulbiferum (Fig. 4b) are applied externally to hemorrhoids, and fronds are taken for liver problems. Decoctions from the rhizomes of P. aquilinum are drunk as a herbal health tea, and the rhizomes of W. unigemmata are used to cure skin diseases. Leaf juices are used as a tea or bath for curing infertility in women, for abdominal pain, constipation and sore ...
Context 7
... (Fig. 3e) were shown to have cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects due to the presence of bioflavonoids ( Lee and Lin, 1988;Silva et al., 1995;Sun et al., 1997;Lee et al., 1999;Lin et al., 2000; Su et al., 2000;Chen JJ et al., 2005;Gayathri et al., 2005;Woo et al., 2005;Gao et al., 2007;Shi et al., 2008;Tan et al., 2009), while Pteris semipinnata (Fig. 4c) and P. multifida have cytotoxic effects due to the presence of diterpenes ( Woerdenbag et al., 1996;Li et al., 1998Li et al., , 1999). Several authors have studied the anti-cancer potentials of ferns and lycopods, namely P. aquilinum, Davallia cylindrical, Stenoloma chusanum, Selaginella frondosa, Thelypteris torresiana, P. vittata, ...
Context 8
... (1999), the hepa- titis B virus (HBV) is a prominent infectious disease agent worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa, causing liver cirrhosis and cancer. Blechni rhizome, known for its antiviral (HBV) activity, is prepared from the roots and stems of various ferns including B. orientale, D. crassirhizoma, O. japonica, Wood- wardia orientalis (Fig. 4d), Woodwardia unigemmata (Fig. 5b), Athyrium acrostichoides, Sphaeropteris lepifera, and C. fortunei. Likewise, an herbal mixture of Woodwardia species with some other flowering plants has shown anti-HIV-1 (human immunodefi- ciency virus) activity. Lygodium flexuosum (Dhiman, 1998) and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (Vasudeva, 1999) have ...
Context 9
... D. quercifolia (Dixit and Vohra, 1984), A. aureum (Defilpps et al., 1988), Selaginella bryopteris (Dhiman, 1998), Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. flexuosum, A. venustum (Vasudeva, 1999, Adiantum caudatum (Burkill, 1996), Christella parasitica (Gogoi, 2002), Huperzia serrata ( Fig. 5d) (Zangara, 2003), S. tam- ariscina ( Woo et al., 2005), P. ensiformis (Fig. 4f) ( Wu et al., 2005), P. multifida ( Lee and Lin, 1988), Dryopteris sp. ( Otsuka et al., 1972), Cheilanthes farinosa ( Yonathan et al., 2006), Cyathea gigantea ( Fig. 3c) (Benjamin and Manickam, 2007;Madhukiran and Ganga Rao, 2011), Blechnum occidentale (Nonato et al., 2009), D. mariesii (Chang et al., 2007b), Microsorum scolopendria ...
Context 10
... ( Lee et al., 2009), and vari- ous species (Maruzzella, 1961;McCutcheon et al., 1995). Furthermore, several studies (May, 1978;Dixit and Vohra, 1984;Dixit, 1992;Verma and Singh, 1995;Manandhar, 1996;Das, 1997;Singh, 1999;Benjamin and Manickam, 2007) have reported the antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activity of Eq- uisetum ramosissimum (Fig. 4a), A. aureum, D. quercifolia, Psilotum nudum (Fig. 5h), Parahemi- onitis arifolia, Helminthostachys zeylanica, O. gra- mineum, Tectaria caodunata, S. involvens, S. del- icatula, Hypodematium crenatum, Leucostegia im- mersa, and Solvinia molusta. Singh (1999) docu- mented antibacterial and antifungal activity of Botrychum lanuginosum, ...
Context 11
... plants of B. ori- entale are used in anathematic and typhoid treatments. Fronds of B. orientale ground in cow's milk are used in the treatment of asthma, as antibacterials and an- thelmintics, and to improve fertility in women. The whole plant of H. zeylanica is considered an intoxi- cant, anodyne, and is also used as an aphrodisiac. L. flexuosum (Fig. 4e) is used to cure skin diseases, rheumatism, sprains, scabies, eczema, cut wounds, and rheumatism, and as an expectorant. A paste made from the leaves of N. cordifolia is applied to wounds to stop bleeding. Whole plants of S. bryopteris are used as diuretics, and to treat gonorrhoea (Singh and Upadhyay, 2012). A. capillus-veneris is used ...
Context 12
... In addition, A. caudatum is used to cure jaundice, sca- bies, abdominal pain, and constipation. The young fronds of A. incisum are used to treat malaria and bronchial diseases, while leaves and rhizomes of A. venustum are thought to cure diabetes, and are used to treat liver problems and circulatory disorders. Leaves of Asplenium bulbiferum (Fig. 4b) are applied exter- nally to hemorrhoids, and fronds are taken for liver problems. Decoctions from the rhizomes of P. aqui- linum are drunk as a herbal health tea, and the rhi- zomes of W. unigemmata are used to cure skin dis- eases. Leaf juices are used as a tea or bath for curing infertility in women, for abdominal pain, constipation ...

Similar publications

Article
Full-text available
We present a list of species of ferns and lycophytes from Carambeí, a municipality located in Paraná state, southern Brazil. This area, locally known as “Campos Gerais”, presents an intricate mosaic of forests and savannah with several canyons and humid valleys that harbors a rich and unique vegetation in Southern Brazil. In total, we found 129 spe...

Citations

... Many species of plant have been picked for anticancer activity, and one of them is pteridophyte flora. 6 Research found that pteridophytes are successful against cervical, breast, brain, ovary, colorectal, liver, lung, pancreas, gastric, blood, squamosal cell cancers. 7 There are several phytoconstituent that have notable activity against cancer, which is performed in several in vitro and in vivo studies. ...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction Inhibiting the signaling protein/gene involved in cancer progression may affect the signaling cascade and could be a possible targeted approach against progressive cancer. The present study aims to evaluate the anticancer potential of bioactive compounds from selected Himalayan pteridophytes by targeting the phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway using in silico techniques. Materials and Methods In the present study, we identified various Himalayan pteridophytes via literature search from different search engines like Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, etc. Among all, four Himalayan pteridophytes were chosen whose bioactive constituents were already identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Molecular docking via PyRx software was performed against two PI3K target proteins (PDB ID: 5OQ4 and PDB ID: 3OAW) for determining the binding affinity of selected bioactive constituents against cancer. Drug likeliness and toxicity assessment were also carried out by using Swiss ADME and ProTox-II. Results and Discussion Molecular docking study identified 12 bioactive molecules with favorable binding affinities (ranging from –7.3 to –10.00 kcal/mol) against PI3K pathway. Among 12 constituents, 3 molecules named as PC-2 (Matteucinol), PC-4 (Matteuorienate-A), and PC-9 (flavan-4-ol) have binding affinity more than the reference compounds. These results suggest that these constituents may serve as a promising candidate for further in vitro and in vivo studies in cancer therapeutics. The selected bioactive compounds demonstrate promising anticancer activity via PI3K inhibition, warranting further experimental validation and development as potential cancer therapeutics.
... Humans have recognized the therapeutic value of plant life as a crucial component of biological diversity since the dawn of civilization (Fiorin et al., 2019). Archaeological literature evidence that humans have been utilizing pteridophytes for over 2000 years, indicating a longstanding relationship between humans and them (Keller and Prance, 2015;Baskaran et al., 2018). ...
Article
Scaly tree ferns stand out among other pteridophytes not only due to their ancient lineage, which retains specific primitive characteristics in their appearance and growth habits, but also because of their remarkable diversity, local endemism, and distinctive ethnobotanical uses. Pteridophytes generally have received less attention than seed plants due to their limited economic potential and utility. Our experiences and knowledge show that scaly tree ferns possess substantial economic potential and offer higher utility than other fern groups. Analyzing ethnobotanical knowledge is a well-established technique and tool to understand any plant group's significance and economic potential. Therefore, we aimed to compile ethnobotanical knowledge related to scaly tree ferns from various ethnic groups worldwide, utilizing published information and consulting with key informants. In the present survey, 61 species of scaly tree ferns were identified that belong to four genera (Alsophila, Cyathea, Gymnosphaera, and Sphaeropteris), which are utilized across 41 countries worldwide. The ethnobotanical uses of these 61 tree fern species are classified into four user categories: medicinal, food and animal feed, ornamental, and other uses. This study underscores the potential for integrating traditional ethnobotanical knowledge about scaly tree ferns with modern scientific understanding. It also emphasizes the critical importance of preserving and compiling this knowledge that has been passed down through generations within traditional communities. This preservation ensures that such valuable knowledge is not lost to future generations.
... Bangladesh has ample scope to use ferns commercially. These plants hold environmental and economic importance, with some species possessing medicinal properties (6,7,8) . Conservation measures are crucial for their preservation, including creating fern gardens, protected areas, and systematic data collection. ...
Article
Full-text available
This study aims to investigate the pteridophytic flora of the Lalmai Pahar, Mainamati, located at the Cumilla district of Bangladesh. Despite the absence of extensive pteridophyte surveys in this hilly forest, it is known to harbour a diverse range of pteridophyte species. This study presents a survey of the pteridophyte diversity within the specified area, documenting a total of 27 taxa. The voucher specimens have been deposited at the Salar Khan Herbarium, Department of Botany at the University of Dhaka. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 33(1): 1-21, 2024 (January)
... Penicillin-streptomycin (Pen-Strep) is an antibiotic suspension comprised of penicillin and streptomycin, which is mostly employed to control bacterial infection in cell culture media. Pen-Strep has been found to have broad antimicrobial activity for controlling both grampositive and gram-negative bacteria [9,10]. Meanwhile, it has been reported that these can cause skin allergies and asthma and even can damage the internal organs of living organism once exposed [11]. ...
... Numerous food additives have been employed during the food production stages to enhance their taste and color of foodstuffs and also to improve their storage time [12]. In addition to sugar and salts, chemical preservatives have also been frequently employed with recommended incorporation levels [9]. However, even prohibited food adulterants have been employed in higher levels which will impact public health drastically. ...
... Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) is a common food preservative that is employed in potato chips, vegetable oils, chewing gum, cereals, etc. [13]. Earlier studies have shown that BHA possesses genotoxic effects, thereby creating ecotoxicity upon their release into the environment [9]. Considering the existence of a wide variety of polluting agents in water resources, it is highly recommended for regular monitoring of water quality. ...
Article
Full-text available
A highly flexible and cost-effective copper tape decorated with silver nanoparticles (Cu-TAg) has been developed for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing of multi-hazardous environmental pollutants. Highly ordered and spherical-shaped silver nanoarrays have been fabricated using a low-cost thermal evaporation method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of Cu-TAg sensors have been studied and correlated to the corresponding SERS performances. The size of nanoparticles has been successively tuned by varying the deposition time from 5 to 25 s. The nanoparticle sizes were enhanced with an increase in the evaporation time. SERS investigations have revealed that the sensing potential is subsequently improved with an increase in deposition time up to 10 s and then deteriorates with further increase in Ag deposition. The highest SERS activity was acquired for an optimum size of ~ 37 nm; further simulation studies confirmed this observation. Moreover, Cu-TAg sensors exhibited high sensitivity, reproducibility, and recycling characteristics to be used as excellent chemo-sensors. The lower detection limit estimation revealed that it can sense even in the pico-molar range for sensing of rhodamine 6G and methylene blue. The estimated enhancement factor of the sensor is found to be 9.4 × 10⁷. Molecular-specific sensing of a wide range of pollutants such as rhodamine 6G, alizarin red, methylene blue, butylated hydroxy anisole, and penicillin–streptomycin is demonstrated with high efficiencies for micromolar spiked samples. Copper tape functionalized with Ag arrays thus demonstrated to be a promising candidate for low-cost and reusable chemo-sensors for environmental remediation applications. Graphical abstract
... Among the wide variety of natural products, plants are considered major sources of antimicrobial agents (Touati et al., 2018). The species of the Pteridaceae family are known for their diverse bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, and neurobiological properties (Baskaran et al., 2018). To date, a number of bioactive compounds have been introduced from the Cheilanthes genus, for example, glycosides of apigenin, chrysoeriol, luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin from C. concolor, C. flexuosa and C. goyazensis (Salatino and Prado, 1998). ...
Article
Full-text available
Cheilanthes tenuifolia is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of Cheilanthes genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of Cheilanthes tenuifolia leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions. A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with n-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed. Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity. C. tenuifolia might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions
... Theophrastus (who lived from 327 to 287 BCE) and Dioscorides (around 50 CE), there were mentions of how some Pteridophytes could be used to treat different kinds of pain and health issues. In their famous book called "Samhitas," Sushruta and Charaka (around 100 CE) also talked about how Marsilea minuta and Adiantum capillus-veneris could be used for medicinal purposes [7,8]. The studies proved the number of Pteridophytes has the potential that could be used in the Modern medicinl system for the management of different human illnesses. ...
Chapter
This book series invites all the Specialists, Professors, Doctors, Scientists, Academicians, Healthcare professionals, Nurses, Students, Researchers, Business Delegates, and Industrialists across the globe to publish their insights and convey recent developments in the field of Nursing, Pharmaceutical Research and Innovations in Pharma Industry. Book series on Pharmacy and Nursing covers research work in a set of clinical sciences and medicine.
... Fern with short creeping rhizome, covered with brown coloured narrow scales up to the petiole base; petiole and rachis hairy; fronds long, pinnules sub-oppositely attached to the rachis, sori marginal golden brown in colour. Rhizome of this fern is an antioxidant, anticancer [29] . Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ...
Research
Full-text available
Lifestyle diseases are the diseases caused due to our mode of living, unhealthy diets such as junk and fast food, the alcoholism, and other drug habits. Developing habit of late sleeping and late awaking, using fatty food proportionate to physical exercise through nature of working and maximum sitting for work causing blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, hypertension causing cardiac arrest. Regular exercise, pranayama and yogasana plays a vital role for this management. Besides, herbal drugs are also useful the management of the lifestyle diseases. Seeking out this an exploration of herbs related with the formulation of medicines and tradition use of medicines described in different herbal system of medicines have been made in the Gangetic areas in West Bengal from Rajmahal hill to Gangasagar. During the course of exploration, 34 plants were found being used in different herbal medical systems or having the properties and having the chemical alkaloids and pharmacological properties are mentioned in this paper.
... There is great promise in developing new anti-tumor drugs from natural plants [15], and the isolation of antitumor substances from plants that are effective and have low toxicity has been a hot topic for scholars globally [16,17]. More than 3000 Chinese herbs have been screened for cancer in China [18]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate exhibits significant antitumor effects on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells by effectively inhibiting the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the antitumor properties of trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate, and to explore its potential as a therapeutic agent for CCA. This study illustrates that trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate efficiently suppresses CCA cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress and initiation of apoptosis via the activation of the mitochondrial pathway. Data from xenograft tumor assays in nude mice confirms that TBB inhibits tumor growth, and that there are no obvious toxic effects or side effects in vivo. Mechanistically, trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate exerts antitumor effects by inhibiting STAT3 transcriptional activation, reducing PCNA and Bcl-2 expression, and increasing P21 expression. These findings emphasizes the potential of trilobolide-6-O-isobutyrate as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of CCA.
... Ancient medicinal systems recognized the therapeutic potential of ferns, with references dating back to texts such as the Sushruta and Charaka Samhitas in Ayurveda (circa 100 AD) [3]. These ancient texts prescribed the use of certain ferns, and similar endorsements can be found in the Unani system of medicine [4]. ...
Article
Full-text available
Medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries and continue to be a global resource for healthcare. They offer a potentially safer and more cost-effective alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals, which can pose health risks and financial burdens, especially in low-income communities. This study investigated the antimicrobial properties of Platycerium coronarium leaf extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The extraction process involved maceration with methanol, ethanol, and chloroform solvents. Each extract was independently tested for antibacterial activity using the agar well diffusion method. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted, revealing the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides in the methanol and ethanol extracts. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were determined for the methanol extract against S. aureus. Results indicate that the methanol extract exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity (8.5mm) against S. aureus, followed by the ethanol extract (7mm), while the chloroform extract showed no antimicrobial effect. None of the extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli. These findings suggest that Platycerium coronarium leaf extracts hold promise as natural antimicrobial agents. Further research, including in vivo studies, is required to evaluate their efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action against Gram-positive bacterial infections. Such investigations could contribute to the development of affordable alternatives to combat antibiotic resistance and alleviate medication costs in underserved communities.
... Plants are appraised to possess a wide range of phytochemicals exhibiting various kinds of activities against microorganisms. Ferns, a group of vascular plants found in abundance in the tropics have been used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine to treat different ailments 6 . Although a few researchers have worked on the antimicrobial activity of these ferns, studies on QS modulators are lacking. ...
Article
Full-text available
The rapid increase in drug resistance in nosocomial pathogens has warranted the search for novel treatment strategies. Targeting quorum sensing (QS) found in bacteria is opined as an alluring method as many pathogenic bacteria employ QS to modulate their virulence. Plants with an enchanting repertoire of phytochemicals can serve as the source for anti-QS compounds. Ferns, the vascular plants have been reported to be used for treating various ailments in traditional systems of medicine. Although some studies have described the antibacterial activity of ferns, to the best of our knowledge there are no investigations carried out to explore their anti-QS potential. Against this background, the current investigation aimed at identifying the anti-QS activity of ferns in inhibiting biofilm formation in selected nosocomial pathogens. Of the several ferns tested, hexane extract of Psilotumnudum leaf and ethanol extract of Cheilanthestenuifolia leaf exhibited significant anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus and E. coli respectively. There was a marked reduction in biofilm formation of approximately 80%. The presence of anti-QS compounds in these ferns paves way for further research to isolate and identify them.