Medicinal Ferns of Kashmir, India. Wani M
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOASSAYS ISSN: 2278-778X CODEN: IJBNHY ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS Medicinal Ferns of Kashmir, India. Wani M. H.*1, Shah M. Y.2 and A. R. Naqshi3 1, 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. 3Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. Received: May 13, 2016; Accepted: May 22, 2016 Available online: 1st July 2016 Abstract: A comprehensive account is presented of fern-allies and ferns known to occur in Kashmir Valley, Gurez (Kishenganga Valley) and Ladakh, which have recognized medicinal value. Out of the total number of 113 taxa (7 taxa of fern allies and 106 taxa of ferns) recorded from the area, a significant proportion (34%) is medicinally important. Amongst these, the genera Dryopteris (07) and Asplenium (06) have the highest number of medicinally important taxa. For each taxon included is provided the botanical name, family, common/vernacular name (wherever available), parts used, medicinal properties, chemical constituents etc. Key words: Chemical constituents; Comprehensive account; Fern allies; Medicinal value; Vernacular names. Introduction Area of study The pteridophytes, which include the fern-allies The Kashmir Valley lies embedded within the and ferns, are a group of ancient or primitive land Himalaya at an average height of about 1600 m, vascular plants with worldwide distribution. As per between the coordinates 33.20° to 34.54° N and the latest estimates (Wani et al., 2012), the area of 73.55° to 75.35° E, and is approximately 135 Km study has 6 species and 1 subspecies (total 7 taxa) in length and 32-40 Km in breadth. Range after of fern-allies, in 3 genera, belonging to 3 families; range of mountains to the North, the East and the and 80 species, 22 subspecies and 4 hybrids (total West separate the Valley from the outside world. 106 taxa) of ferns, in 29 genera, belonging to 13 families. 47 taxa (42%) are recorded to be rare or Kashmir is quite different from surrounding endangered. The fern flora is made up mostly of a regions due to its distinct orographic features and combination of Sino-Himalayan (≥75%), Euro- snow clad peaks, characteristic altitude, and land Mediterranean (≥15%), and a few S.E. Asian locked position. It resembles the mountainous and elements (≤8%). continental areas of temperate latitudes. The main Valley has a Continental climate marked by well- The economic value of pteridophytes including defined seasonality. Gurez (Kishenganga Valley), their medicinal applications has been known to lying between the coordinates 34.38° N and 74.56° man for more than 2000 years. Theophrastus (c. E, to the north, at an elevation of about 2500 m 327-287 BC) and Dioscoroides (c. 50 AD) had above the sea, is accessible to Kashmir Valley via referred to medicinal attributes of certain ferns. the Rajdhan Pass. The Kishenganga (Neelam) Sashruta and Charaka (c. 100 AD) mentioned River flows through it, and on either side tower medicinal uses of Marsilea minuta and Adiantum mountain scarps of indescribable grandeur. The capillus-veneris in their Samhitas (Singh, 2003). climate is mild and dry. The mountainous region of Dras and Ladakh, between the coordinates Though recent ethnobotanical, phytochemical, 34.10° N and 77.34° E, towards the north-east, is pharmacological and biological researches have accessible to the main Valley via the Zoji La Pass. revealed medicinal, pharmaceutical and This region is a cold desert, comprising extensive phytochemical attributes of pteridophytes, which chains of naked, icy mountains (the Zanskar have valuable potential applications for health and Range), and receiving a very meagre rainfall industry, still many species of pteridophytes are yet averaging about 100 mm annually; the vegetation to be explored for their potential applications for being mostly confined to isolated pockets near future use and to isolate new active principles from river courses or small valleys, or on steep moist them (Singh, 2003). A proper utilization of their cliffs. pharmacological value requires a detailed phytochemical analysis of the active principles Materials and Methods contained in them, and the application of the same The present communication is primarily based on in modern system of medicine. The chemical observations from the field and personal properties and the nutritive contents of these ferns interactions with people and traditional healers have to be understood for their proper and (hakims) with herbal knowledge; and practitioners sustainable utilization. practicing Yunnani and Ayurvedic system of *Corresponding Author: Dr. Majid Wani, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India. E-mail address: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.21746/ijbio.2016.07.003 Copyright 2016 pg. 4677 Majid Wani et al., International Journal of Bioassays 5.7 (2016): 4677-4685 medicine were also consulted, to add to the Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. knowledge of medicinal ferns. In documenting the Family: Equisetaceae. medicinal uses of ferns, an exhaustive literature Common Name: Branched Horsetail (English). survey was carried out and an attempt made to Parts Used: Whole plant; Rhizome; Young shoot. provide comprehensive information on their Medicinal Properties: The rhizome decoction of potential medicinal applications. These studies this plant is given to barren women to facilitate were undertaken as an essential part of the main fertilization in S. Africa (May 1978). An extract author's Ph.D. work between the years 2004-2010. made into a paste of the plant is used as local application for treatment of fracture and In the present communication, every effort has dislocation of bones (Kumar et al., 2003). The been made to make the work up to date by plant is also an astringent; used in diarrhoea, incorporating the latest nomenclature; however, in gonorrhoea and improving fertility in women case of those taxa that have been split into (Singh, 2003). subspecies due to recent taxonomic Chemical Constituents: 3-Methoxy pyridine, considerations, only the main species has been Palustine, Dimethyl sulphane, Iso-quercetrin listed. For the presentation of data, all the species Epigenin, Galiteolin, Equisetrin, Equisetonin, are arranged alphabetically for easy reference. Ascorbic acid, Kaempferol, Vitamin C, Lipids and Botanical name, family, common/vernacular name sterols (Singh and Vishwanathan, 1996). (wherever available), parts used, medicinal Activities: Anti-fungal, Anti-rheumatic, Anti-viral, properties, chemical constituents etc. for each Diuretic, Haemopritic, Haemostatic. (Kumar et al., species are provided. 2003). FERNS Alphabetical list of medicinal pteridophytes of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Kashmir Family: Pteridaceae. Fern Allies Common Name: Common Maiden Hair Fern Equisetum arvense L. (English); Geuwtheer/Dumtuli (Kashmiri); Family: Equisetaceae. Hamaspadi/Hansraj (Hindi). Common Name: Common Horsetail/Field Horsetail Parts Used: Whole plant; Fronds. (English). Medicinal Properties: This plant is used in the Parts Used: Whole plant. preparation of ‘Sirop de Capillaire’ of Europe. This Medicinal Properties: The plant is used in syrup is largely used in Italy and Greece in the fractured bones, bone cancer, diabetes, diarrhoea, treatment of chest complaints (Watt, 1889-1892). gout, dyspepsia, piles, sores, tuberculosis, wound The herb has also entered into many compositions healing, dropsy, stone and kidney affections in the West. It is employed as an emmenagogue (Singh, 2003). under the names of ‘Polytrichi,’ ‘Polytrichon’ or Chemical Constituents: 3-Methoxy pyridine, ‘Kalliphytlon,’ administered as a sweetened infusion Aconitic acid, Articulatin, Ascorbic acid, Beta- of 1 oz (30 cc) to a pint (568 cc) of boiling water carotene, Beta-setosterol, Caffeic acid, (Khare, 2004). Campesterol, Dihydrokaempferol, Dihydroquercetin, Equisetin, Equisetonin, This plant is a weak expectorant, bechic, weak Equisetroside, Flavonoids, Galuteolin, emmenagogue and weak diuretic, and is principally Gossypitrin, Herbacetrin, Iron, Isofucosterol, employed in chest complaints such as respiratory Isoquercetroside, Kaemferol, Luteolin, catarrh and coughs. Once it was used in the Naringenin, Niacin, Oxalic-acid, p-Coumaric acid, treatment of both pleurisy and asthma, but with p-Hydroxy-benzoic acid, Palustine, Palustinine, little effect in the latter (Stuart, 1979). Phenolic acid, Quercetrin, Rhodoxanthin, Riboflavin, Selenium, Sterols, Thiamin, Vanillic Whole plant is demulcent, expectorant and acid, Vitamin C, Zinc (Singh, 2003). febrifuge, and also used as a hair tonic. Powdered Activities: Anti-fungal, Anti-rheumatic, Anti-viral, fronds are given with honey against bad cold Diuretic, Haemopoietic, Haemostatic (Singh, (Kaul, 1997), extract used against fever (Naqshi et 2003). al., 1992), used as an emmenagogue (Chopra et al., 1956). It has anti-microbial and hypoglycaemic Equisetum diffusum D. Don properties (Mahmoud et al., 1989; Neef et al., Family: Equisetaceae. 1995). It is anti-odontalgic and anti-inflammatory. Common Name: Himalayan Horsetail (English). Powdered fronds are applied on gums and tooth Parts Used: Whole plant. cavities during toothache and dental abscesses Medicinal Properties: Whole plant is used in (Teresa Palmese et al., 2001). Ethanol extract of 1 gonorrhoea, as a cooling medicine and in arthritis gm of rhizome per ml of alcohol exhibits strong (Singh, 2003). activity against Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (Husson et al., 1986). The fern is used as a pectoral demulcent.