Male Fern
Scientific Name(s): Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott, Dryopteris marginalis (L.) A. Gray
Common Name(s): Aspidium, Bear's paw, Knotty brake, Male fern, Marginal woodfern, Shield fern, Worm fern
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 22, 2024.
Clinical Overview
Use
Male fern has been used traditionally as a vermifuge. Investigations into potential applications of related species, particularly Dryopteris crassirhizoma and Dracaena fragrans, report antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but no clinical trials support these claims.
Dosing
Clinical evidence does not support specific dosing of male fern, and toxicities have been reported with traditional doses.
Contraindications
Specific contraindications have not been identified; however, male fern extract is potentially toxic.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented. Traditional use of male fern extract with castor oil increases absorption of the extract, resulting in increased toxicity.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse reactions associated with traditional doses have included headache, dyspnea, nausea, diarrhea, vertigo, tremor, convulsions, and cardiac and respiratory failure. Impaired vision and jaundice have also been reported.
Toxicology
Male fern extract is potentially toxic.
Scientific Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Polypodiaceae (wood fern)
Botany
D. filix-mas is a hardy, ornamental fern with semievergreen leaves that can grow up to 1 m in length. Stalks are scaly and pale brown, and each leaf grows from the root base. Its rhizomes and frond bases are used medicinally. The plant grows throughout the United States in dry terrain, in rich woods, and on rocky slopes. Originally thought to be the male plant of Athyrium filix-femina (female fern), it was given the name "filix-mas."Franchi 1988, Khan 2010, Step 1905, USDA 2020
History
Male fern has been used in traditional medicine as a vermifuge ("worm fern"), with the early Greeks and Romans also recognizing the plant's value in destroying or expelling parasitic worms.Franchi 1988 In Chinese medicine, the extract has been used to treat wounds, recurrent nosebleeds, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The components of the plant have also been used as veterinary vermifuges. Male fern extract is potentially toxic; while D. filix-mas was formerly listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, mentions were later removed.Khan 2010
Chemistry
Major constituents of Dryopteris ferns include flavonoids and terpenoids.Cao 2013, Han 2015 Male fern contains approximately 6% to 15% of an oleoresin, which contains several chemical constituents including filicins (filicic/filixic acid, albaspidin, flavaspidic acid), aspidinol, alkanes, triterpene hydrocarbons, lignins, volatile oils, and resins.Franchi 1988, Khan 2010 Margaspidin, para-aspidin, phloraspin, and other constituents have also been described.Han 2015, Khan 2010
Uses and Pharmacology
Anti-inflammatory activity
Animal data
In rats, ethanolic D. filix-mas leaf extract and ethyl acetate and butanol fractions demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in paw edema tests.Erhirhie 2019
Vermifuge
Animal data
Filicin and filmarone are active vermifuges, particularly toxic to tapeworms.Duke 2002, Khan 2010
Clinical data
An older clinical study examined the anthelmintic effects of male fern administered via intubation compared with those of piperazine.Goodwin 1958 Another study examined male fern's anthelmintic properties using the plant's encapsulated extract in combination with a magnesium sulfate pretreatment solution.Mello 1978
Other uses
Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and chemotherapeutic properties of related fern species, particularly D. crassirhizoma and D. fragrans, have been investigated.Cao 2013, Gao 2016, Han 2015, Huang 2014, Jiang 2013, Kwon 2007, Lee 2008, Lu 2012, Magalhães 2010, Mazzio 2009, Sun 2013, Xie 2015, Zhang 2012, Zhao 2014
Dosing
Clinical evidence does not support specific dosing of male fern. Traditional dosages for anthelmintic use have resulted in adverse effects.Duke 2002
Pregnancy / Lactation
Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Interactions
None well documented. Traditional use of male fern extract combined with castor oil increases absorption of the extract, resulting in increased toxicity.Khan 2010
Adverse Reactions
Therapeutic doses have been associated with adverse events,Duke 2002, Hargreaves 1966, Khan 2010 including headache, dyspnea, nausea, diarrhea, vertigo, tremor, convulsions, and cardiac and respiratory failure.Khan 2010 Impaired vision and jaundice have also been reported.Duke 2002, Hargreaves 1966
Related/similar drugs
Toxicology
Male fern extract is potentially toxic.Duke 2002, Hargreaves 1966, Khan 2010 While D. filix-mas was formerly listed in the United States Pharmacopeia, mentions were later removed.Franchi 1988, Khan 2010 Some consumer websites reference a 1976 German report of penis enlargement in rats with the use of D. filix-mas extract, but the effect has not been explained or further elucidated.Kantemir 1976
Index Terms
- Dracaena fragrans
- Dryopteris crassirhizoma
References
Disclaimer
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Further information
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