Research Articles
29 April 2025
Vol. 6 (2025)
Deciphering nature's secrets: the antibacterial power and phytochemical characterization of six medicinal fern species
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
118
Views
60
Downloads
Authors
Plants have been key in the development of novel antimicrobial agents and other drugs. However, studies on empirical evidence of the antimicrobial properties of plants have largely focused on higher plants while neglecting lower vascular plants, including ferns. This study investigated the antibacterial potency and characterized the phytochemical profile of six fern species originating from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. The antibacterial potency of the extracts was assessed against pathogenic bacteria using the microtiter plate and agar well diffusion assays. Key generic phytochemicals were quantified through Ultra-Violet (UV)-vis spectrophotometric techniques. Fingerprinting of the extraction components was attained using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-based methods. The fern species contain bioactive compounds such as phenolics and saponins, with species such as Dicranopteris linearis giving high yields of such compounds 158.01±0.95 Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) mg/g and (479.40±1.07 DE mg/g) of extract, respectively. Fern extracts demonstrated substantial antimicrobial activity against common pathogenic bacteria such as K. pneumonia, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) as low as 0.39% w/v and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) as low as 3.13 w/v for some fern species such as Oleandra distenta, Asplenium friesiorum, Dicranopteris linearis, and Marattia fraxinea. The ethanolic extract of Marattia fraxinea was potent against P. aeruginosa with the highest zones of inhibition of 32.67±0.58mm at 50% w/v concentration while D. linearis and O. distenta aqueous extracts were potent against the gram-positive bacteria with the highest zones of inhibition of 27.7±1.15 and 26.67±1.53 mm, respectively, at 50% w/v concentration. This study has elucidated that extracts of fern species can be effective against common pathogenic bacteria.
Altmetrics
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Citations
1. Ikuta KS, Swetschinski LR, Robles Aguilar G, et al. Global mortality associated with 33 bacterial pathogens in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet 2022;400:2221-48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02185-7
2. World Health Organisation (WHO). Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance. 2015. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241509763
3. Dadgostar P. Antimicrobial resistance: implications and costs. Infect Drug Resist 2019;12:3903. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S234610
4. Maragakis LL, Perencevich EN, Cosgrove SE. Clinical and economic burden of antimicrobial resistance. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2008;6:751-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1586/14787210.6.5.751
5. McGowan Jr JE. Economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. Emerg Infect Dis 2001;7:286. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0702.010228
6. Ghasemzadeh A, Jaafar HZE, Rahmat A. Phytochemical constituents and biological activities of different extracts of Strobilanthes crispus (L.) Bremek leaves grown in different locations of Malaysia. BMC Complement Altern Med 2015;15:422. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-015-0873-3
7. Robinson MM, Zhang X. The world medicines situation 2011, traditional medicines: global situation, issues and challenges. World Heal Organ Geneva 2011;31:1-2.
8. De Coninck J. Promoting herbal medicine in Uganda: traditional health practitioners and government working together. 2019. Available from: http://www.ichngoforum.org/promoting-herbal-medicine-uganda/
9. Galabuzi C, Agea J, Fungo B, Kamoga R. Traditional medicine as an alternative form of health care system: a preliminary case study of Nangabo sub-county, central Uganda. African J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2010;7:57224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v7i1.57224
10. Tugume P, Nyakoojo C. Ethno-pharmacological survey of herbal remedies used in the treatment of paediatric diseases in Buhunga parish, Rukungiri District, Uganda. BMC Complement Altern Med 2019;19:1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2763-6
11. Rahmad ZB, Akomolafe GF. Distribution, diversity and abundance of ferns in a tropical university campus. Pertanika J Trop Agric Sci 2018;41.
12. Mandal A, Mondal AK. Studies on antimicrobial activities of some selected ferns and lycophytes in Eastern India with special emphasis on ethno-medicinal uses. African J Plant Sci 2011;5:410-2.
13. Bahadori MB, Kordi FM, Ahmadi AA, et al. Antibacterial evaluation and preliminary phytochemical screening of selected ferns from Iran. Res J Pharmacogn 2015;2:53-9.
14. Soare LC, Ferdes M, Stefanov S, et al. Antioxidant activity, polyphenols content and antimicrobial activity of several native pteridophytes of Romania. Not Bot Horti Agrobot Cluj-Napoca 2012;40:53-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha4016648
15. Maroyi A. Utilization of Pteridophytes as herbal medicines in sub-Saharan Africa BT - Medicinal and aromatic plants of the world - Africa Volume 3. In: Neffati M, Najjaa H, Máthé Á (eds.). Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2017. p. 383-408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1120-1_16
16. Tsepeupon Matchide MG, Sonfack Fozeng HD, Tchuente Tchuenmogne MA, et al. Antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity and chemotaxonomic significance of chemical constituents from Alsophila manniana Hook R.M.Tryon (Cyatheaceae) rhizomes. Biochem Syst Ecol 2024;114:104834. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2024.104834
17. Sureshkumar J, Silambarasan R, Bharati KA, et al. A review on ethnomedicinally important pteridophytes of India. J Ethnopharmacol 2018;219:269-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.024
18. Vetter J. Toxicological and medicinal aspects of the most frequent fern species, Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn BT - Working with ferns: issues and applications. In: Kumar A, Fernández H, Revilla MA (eds). Springer New York, New York, USA, 2010. p. 361-75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7162-3_25
19. Zakaria ZA, Abdul Ghani ZDF, Raden Mohd. Nor RNS, et al. Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of an aqueous extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves in experimental animal models. J Nat Med 2008;62:179-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-007-0224-x
20. de Boer HJ, Kool A, Broberg A, et al. Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity of some herbal remedies from Tanzania. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;96:461-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.09.035
21. Rajesh KD, Subramani V, Annamalai P, et al. Gastrothylax crumenifer: ultrastructure and histopathology study of in vitro trematodicidal action of Marattia fraxinea (Sm.). Clin Phytoscience 2017;3:3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-016-0039-y
22. McNeilage A, Plumptre AJ, Brock-Doyle A, Vedder A. Bwindi impenetrable national park, Uganda: gorilla census 1997. Oryx 2001;35:39-47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00154.x
23. Babaasa D. Habitat selection by elephants in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, south-western Uganda. Afr J Ecol 2000;38:116-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2028.2000.00226.x
24. Mucunguzi P. Diversity and distribution of vascular epiphytes in the forest lower canopy in Kibale National Park, western Uganda. Afr J Ecol 2007;45:120-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00868.x
25. Handa SS. An overview of extraction techniques for medicinal and aromatic plants. In: Handa SS, Khanuja SPS, Longo G, Rakesh DD (eds), Extraction technologies for medicinal and aromatic plants. 2008. p. 21-40. Available from: https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/2009-10/Extraction_technologies_for_medicinal_and_aromatic_plants_0.pdf
26. Aryal S, Baniya MK, Danekhu K, et al. Total phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant potential of wild vegetables from Western Nepal. Plants. 2019;8:96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8040096
27. Parekh J, Jadeja D, Chanda S. Efficacy of aqueous and methanol extracts of some medicinal plants for potential antibacterial activity. Turkish J Biol 2005;29:203-10.
28. Mogana R, Adhikari A, Tzar MN, et al. Antibacterial activities of the extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from Canarium patentinervium Miq. against bacterial clinical isolates. BMC Complement Med Ther 2020;20:55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-2837-5
29. Hammer Ø, Harper DAT. Past: paleontological statistics software package for educaton and data anlysis. Palaeontol Electron 2001;4:1.
30. Yeomans KA, Golder PA. The Guttman-Kaiser Criterion as a predictor of the number of common factors. J R Stat Soc Ser D The Stat 1982;31:221-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2987988
31. Fotsing YSF, Kezetas JJB, Batiha GES, et al. Extraction of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and herbs. In: El-Shemy HA (ed). Natural medicinal plants. IntechOpen, Rijeka, Croatia, 2021. p. 1-39.
32. Truong DH, Nguyen DH, Ta NTA, et al. Evaluation of the use of different solvents for phytochemical constituents, antioxidants, and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of Severinia buxifolia. J Food Qual 2019;2019:8178294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8178294
33. Dhanani T, Shah S, Gajbhiye NA, Kumar S. Effect of extraction methods on yield, phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Withania somnifera. Arab J Chem 2017;10:S1193-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.02.015
34. Sulaiman CT, Balachandran I. Total phenolics and total flavonoids in selected Indian medicinal plants. Indian J Pharm Sci 2012;74:258-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0250-474X.106069
35. Ribarova F, Atanassova M, Marinova D, et al. Total phenolics and flavonoids in Bulgarian fruits and vegetables. JU Chem Met 2005;40:255-60.
36. Aldhanhani ARH, Ahmed ZFR, Tzortzakis N, Singh Z. Maturity stage at harvest influences antioxidant phytochemicals and antibacterial activity of jujube fruit (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. and Ziziphus spina-christi L.). Ann Agric Sci 2022;67:196-203. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2022.12.003
37. Trugo LC, von Baer D, von Baer E. LUPIN. Encyclopedia of Food Science and Nutrition. 2003. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012227055X007173 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00717-3
38. Meserole L. Chapter 15 - Health foods in anti-aging therapy: reducers of physiological decline and degenerative diseases. In: Iwu MM, Wootton J (eds.). Ethnomedicine and drug discovery. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2002. p. 173-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1572-557X(02)80024-1
39. Miao L, Zhang H, Yang L, et al. Chapter 4.8 - Flavonoids. In: Antioxidant effects in health. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2022. p. 353-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819096-8.00048-3
40. Liener IE. Plant antinutritional factors/detoxification. In: Caballero BBT (ed). Encyclopedia of food sciences and nutrition. Oxford Academic Press, Oxford, UK, 2003. p. 4587-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00936-6
41. Yang Y, Laval S, Yu B. Chapter Two - Chemical synthesis of saponins. Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry 2021;79:63-150. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.accb.2021.10.001
42. Ngo T Van, Scarlett CJ, Bowyer MC, et al. Impact of different extraction solvents on bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity from the root of Salacia chinensis L. J Food Qual 2017;2017:9305047. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/9305047
43. Kaggwa B, Nakayita MG, Munanura EI, et al. Chemometric classification of Mangifera indica L. leaf cultivars, based on selected phytochemical parameters; implications for standardization of the pharmaceutical raw materials. Evidence-Based Complement Altern Med 2023;2023:7245876. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7245876
44. Nefzi K, Ben Jemaa M, Baraket M, et al. In vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and mechanisms of action of ethanolic extracts of five Tunisian plants against bacteria. Applied Sciences 2022;12:5038. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105038
45. Gill AO, Holley RA. Disruption of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Lactobacillus sakei cellular membranes by plant oil aromatics. Int J Food Microbiol 2006;108:1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2005.10.009
46. Radulovic NS, Blagojevic PD, Stojanovic-Radic ZZ, Stojanovic NM. Antimicrobial plant metabolites: structural diversity and mechanism of action. Curr Med Chem 2013;20:932-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867311320070008
How to Cite
Deciphering nature’s secrets: the antibacterial power and phytochemical characterization of six medicinal fern species. (2025). Infectious Diseases and Herbal Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/idhm.2025.428
Copyright (c) 2025 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.