Male fern extract

Oleoresins Male fern extract used for tapeworm infestation. 

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). 

Occurs in male fern extract. Cryst. from EtOH. M.p. 213-15 decomp. Mod. sol. hot HjO, hot EtOH. Spar. sm. EtjO, AcOH. Reduces Tollen s reagent. 

Occurs in male fern extract. Yellow plates from AcOEt. M.p. 184-5 . Sol. CHCI3, CSg. Mod. sol. CgHg, xylene. Spar. sol. EtgO. 

Capsules of Male Fern Extract, B.P. Usually contain 15 minims. The assay is as given under Extract of Male Fern, on material expressed from the shells. 

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]. 

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.)... 

Oleoresin of Aspidium. Oleoresin of male fern. An ether extract of male fern containing not less than 24% crude filicin. 

Phenolic natural products (acylphloroglucinols) from the male fern Dryopteris filix-mas. The natural product is a mixture of six homologues (R, R =methyl, ethyl, propyl) with three main components, see table. Use F. exhibit anthelmintic activity. Ether extracts or solutions of the active principles in a fatty oil in combination with the subsequent administration of a laxative are used as a remedy for tapeworms. As a result of the low therapeutic range and the difficulties in standardization, F. have been mostly replaced by synthetic agents (they are still used occasionally in veterinary medicine). 

Male fern is standardised by exhaustion of the drug with ether and after evaporation to low bulk, continuing the assay on the extract. The proportion of oleoresin present may be determined by weighing the nonvolatile residue from the percolate. 

Extract of Male Fern, Contains 22 per cent of crude filicin. The B,P, determination is outlined below. 

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