Abstract

A REVIEW ON THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF ADIANTUM CAPILLUS - VENERIS LINN

Supriya Ganesh Jagtap*, Vedant Vinay Kajale, Monika Madhukar Jadhav and Minal Rushikesh Ghante

ABSTRACT

Adiantum capillus-veneris L has been utilised as a therapy in habitual Iranian medication from olden times. It has always played a significant role in medicine and public health. The herb Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn (Maidenhair fern) belongs to the Pteridaceae family. In Iranian Traditional Medicine medical and pharmaceutical texts, it is referred to as "Pare-siavashan." Ancient physicians used Maidenhair fern fronds as a solitary medicine or in mixture with additional plants in multi-herbal preparations to treat various ailments. The plant possesses antibacterial efficacy against infections such as Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeurogenosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus faecalis. It has been used in cold, skin diseases, bronchitis, hair fall and inflammatory diseases. A broad variety of chemical constituents including adiantone, diplopterol, kaempferol, populnin, naringin, neoxanthin, rhodoxanthin, rutin, shikimic acid, quinic acid etc have been derived from the plant. The various medicinal properties of the plant include antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic, lithotriptic, neuroprotective, antiproliferative anticholesterolemic etc. Researchers are now are gaining more awareness towards this plant due to its easy availability and medicinal properties. The present review focuses on the major chemical constituents and reviewing the pharmacological and therapeutic effects research work covered till now, on this plant which will make available adequate information for future and commercial utilization.

Keywords: Adiantum capillus - veneris L, traditional medicine, antimicrobial, anticancer activity.