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

This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this product. This information does not endorse this product as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this product. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product.

This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure. With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age.

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