Ostrich Fern
Scientific Name(s): Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod.
Common Name(s): Fiddlehead fern, Ostrich fern, Shuttlecock fern, Wood fern
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 1, 2024.
Clinical Overview
Use
Studies regarding therapeutic applications of ostrich fern are limited. A small number of animal and in vitro studies have examined the fern's potential as an antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agent. However, quality clinical trial data are lacking to recommend use for any indication.
Dosing
No clinical evidence exists to support a specific dosage of ostrich fern.
Contraindications
Contraindications have not been identified.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse effects caused by ingestion of undercooked ostrich fern fiddleheads have included nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping.
Toxicology
No data.
Scientific Family
- Onocleaceae (formerly Dryopteridaceae)
Botany
The ostrich fern is a common fern that grows in the northeastern United States and throughout Canada. The fern's characteristic long, green, feathery fronds lose their leaflets in the fall, leaving a dormant winter plant. Ostrich ferns grow up to 2 m in height and spread in moist conditions via underground rhizomes. Synonyms for the species include Matteuccia pensylvanica, Pteretis nodulosa, Pteretis pensylvanica, and Onoclea struthiopteris.USDA 2020, Wagstaff 2008
History
Fiddleheads (the young shoot tops) of the ostrich fern are a seasonal delicacy, harvested commercially throughout the northeastern United States and coastal Canadian provinces; historically, this spring vegetable was a regular part of the diet of settlers to these areas by the 1700s.von Aderkas 1984 Both the fronds and shoot tops of the ostrich fern are widely consumed in Japan, and are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.Li 2015, Miyazawa 2007 Fiddleheads are available canned, frozen, or fresh. Limited screening studies have been conducted to identify potential therapeutic applications.
Chemistry
Chromatographic studies have analyzed the constituents of ostrich fern,Li 2013, Zhang 2008 which include xanthophyll pigments, essential fatty acids (including linolenic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acids),DeLong 2011 flavones (demethoxymatteucinol, matteucinol, and matteuorien), and stilbenes (pinosylvin, pinosylvin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 5-beta-D-glucosyloxy-3-hydroxyl-trans-stilbene-2-carboxylic acid).Li 2015, Li 2013 The antioxidant compounds chlorogenic acid and caffeoylhomoserine have also been described.Miyazawa 2007
An essential oil of ostrich fern has been described as containing at least 100 compounds, notably (E)-phytol, nonanal, and decanal as main compounds, as well as other aromatic aldehyde compounds.Miyazawa 2007 Ostrich fern has been reported to accumulate some heavy metalsBurns 1988; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no evidence of heavy metal poisoning in an evaluation of a limited number of cases of illness following fiddlehead fern consumption at various restaurants.CDC 1994
Uses and Pharmacology
Antimicrobial effects
In vitro data
Extracted flavonoids showed in vitro activity against the H1N1 influenza virus in one study.Li 2015
Antihyperlipidemic activity
In vitro data
A screening study of 7 edible plants, including ostrich fern, examined the activity of extracts on triglyceride and cholesterol levels.Takahashi 2011
Anti-inflammatory activity
Animal and in vitro data
In one study, M. struthiopteris polysaccharides inhibited production of immunoglobulin in mice with induced systemic lupus erythematosus–like syndrome. Weight loss and spleen swelling were also diminished in the treated group.Wang 2010 Anti-inflammatory activity has also been noted in in vitro studies.Dion 2015
Antioxidant activity
In vitro data
Antioxidant activity has been studied in chemical assays.DeLong 2011, DeLong 2013
Cancer
In vitro data
One study of plant extracts demonstrated differentiation-inducing activity against human leukemia cells.Hata 1998
Dosing
No clinical evidence exists to support a specific dosage of ostrich fern. Because of the potential presence of heat-labile toxin in ostrich fern, the plant should be cooked thoroughly before consumption.CDC 1994
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
The fiddleheads of ostrich fern are generally considered edible once they have been steamed. However, in the mid-1990s, several outbreaks of food poisoning in New York and western Canada were associated with consumption of raw or lightly cooked fiddleheads.CDC 1994 Symptoms were reported within 12 hours after ingestion, with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping being the most commonly reported adverse reactions.CDC 1994
Because no reports of illness were associated with fiddleheads that had been boiled or steamed for at least 10 minutes, thorough cooking is recommended.CDC 1994
Toxicology
Information regarding the toxicity of ostrich fern is lacking.
Index Terms
- Matteuccia pensylvanica
- Onoclea struthiopteris
- Pteretis nodulosa
- Pteretis pensylvanica
References
Disclaimer
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