Male Fern

Oleoresins Male fern extract used for tapeworm infestation. 

The antibacterial effect of honey derived from Kanuka and Manuka blossom against Staphylococcus aureus was shown and, more recently, Manuka honey was shown to be active against Helicobacter pylori. Leptospermum scoparium contains leptospermone, which has antihelminthic properties and is closely related to compounds having similar properties in male ferns leptospermone has insecticidal properties, and is similar in structure to the insecticide valone. 

Some herbs are contraindicated when pregnant because they are thought to have an influence on the uterus. These include barberry, bloodroot, calamus, cascara sagrada, fennel, goldenseal, juniper, lavender, licorice root, male fern, mayapple,... 

The rhizome of Dryopteris filix-mas (male fern) was formerly used as an antihelminthic drug (1), but it is... 

Vinkenborg J. [The male fern as a medicinal plant.] Pharm Weekbl 1961 96 726-36. 

Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas Yew Taxus species... 

LIFE HISTORY OF THE MALE FERN [DRYOPTERIS (ASPIDIUM OR NEPHRODIUM) FILIX-MAS]... 

Tbe Male Fern along with the Marginal Fern Dryopteris margin-alis) have long been known to the pharmaceutical and medical professions as the source of the drug Aspidium, a most valuable remedy for the expulsion of tapeworm. The parts of these plants employed are the rhizome and stipes which are collected in autumn, freed of the roots and dead portions and dried at a temperature not exceeding 7o°C. 

The work has been for the most part remodeled. Chapter I deals with Fundamental Considerations. Chapter II is devoted to the life history of the Male Fern, a median type of plant, the consideration of which, after the students have received fundamental practice in the use of the microscope, the writer has found commendable, for it not only gives beginners a working knowledge of structures and functions, the homologies and analogies of which will be met in the later study of forms of higher and lower domain, but holds their interest on account of its economic importance. 

The use of coumarin, tonka bean, safrole, sassafras oil, dihydrosafrole, isosafrole, agaric acid, nitrobenzene, dulcamara, pennyroyal oil, oil of tansy, rue oil, birch tar oil, cade oil, volatile bitter almond oil containing hydrocyanic acid, and male fern as flavouring agents is prohibited. 

The tapeworm infection is a widespread helminth disease which has attracted the attention of native practitioners and physicians. The first so called "effective" herbal preparation for eradicating tapeworms from humans became available in 1775 known as "Madame Nauffer s Tapeworm Cure" [1]. The active ingredient of this remedy was male fern. Since then the extract of the rhizome of male fern (Dryop-terisfilix mas), called aspidium oleoresin, has been used as a folk remedy and also as a drug in clinical medicine to treat tapeworm infections in humans. 

Kamala obtained from Mallotus philippinensis, and Kousso obtained from Hagenia abyssinica (= Brayera anthelmintica) also show activity against tapeworms infecting man and animals. The extracts of these plants contain phloroglucinols very similar to those present in male fern. The active principle of kamala is rottlerine 23 [46-48], while kousso contains a mixture of a- and P-kosins (24a,b) [49,50]. 

MALE FERN (Buckler Fern) Filicis rhizoma The drug consists of the dried rhizomes with remaining petioles from Dryopteris filix mas (L.), Schott, family Polypodiaceae, a fern which grows in Europe, Northern Asia and America. 

Nosslin, B., Bromsulphthalein retention and jaundice due to unconjugated bilirubin following treatment with male fern extract. Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. Suppl. 16, 69 (1963). 

Oleoresin of Kale Fern. Pack closely 2 pounds avoirdupois, male fern, in coarse powder in a percolator displace with 4 impenal pints ether, or until it passes colorless Let the ether evaporate on a water-bath, or recover it by distillation, and preserve the oily extract. Br, Ph,) This preparation by its character decidedly belongs to the oleoresins it boa long been known and much used in Europe, under the name of oil of fern, in the treatment of the tapeworm. It is believed to have all the vermifugal powers of the mala fern, and may be given in i fluid drachm doses. (U. S, Vis.)... 

Aspid inol 2 -(2,6 i)i A yd rwey 4- m eth axy 3 et h y t phenyl )-l buta none 2 6 dihydroxy-4 -methoxy-31 -methyl-1 -bu ty rophenone 4 - bu t y ry 1 - 2 -m et hy I ph to rogl uci nol 1-methyl ether 4-butyryl-3,5-dihydroxy-l-methoxy-2-methy I benzene. C12Hlfi04 mol wt 224.25. C 64-27%, H 719%, O 28,54%, Occurs in exlraci of male fern Boehm, Ann. 318, 247 (1901) Hausmann, Arch. Pharm, 237, 559 (1899), Isoln from Dryopteris austriaca (Jacq.) Woynar Polypodiaceae Aebi et ai.t Helv. Chim. Acta 40, 266 (1957), Synthesis from 2-methyLphLoroglucino] 1 -methyl ether Karrer. Widmer Helv. Chim. Acta 3, 392 (1920) Riedl, Mittledorf, Ber, 89, 2589 (1956). 

Aspidium. Male fern male shield-fern filix mas (B.P.). Rhizome and stipes of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott., Foiypodiaeeae. Habit. North America, Northern Asia. Europe. Northern Africa. Constit. Filicic and flav-aspidic acids, volatile oil, ashaspidin, filicin. filmaron. fiI Lx red, resin. It yields not less than 6.5% oleoresin (U.S.P.)... 

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