Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of the Genus Blechnum—A Narrative Review

Blechnum L. is a genus belonging to the Blechnaceae family with 236 accepted species that grow in intertropical, subtropical, and southern temperate regions. Several species of the genus have long been used in folk medicines to treat a broad spectrum of ailments, including typhoid, urinary infection...

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Published in:Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-07, Vol.15 (7), p.905
Main Authors: Waswa, Emmanuel Nyongesa, Muema, Felix Wambua, Odago, Wyclif Ochieng, Mutinda, Elizabeth Syowai, Nanjala, Consolata, Mkala, Elijah Mbandi, Amenu, Sarah Getachew, Ding, Shi-Xiong, Li, Jing, Hu, Guang-Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscesses
Bladder
Blechnum
Cancer
Flowers & plants
Herbal medicine
Infections
Inflammation
Influenza
Metabolites
pharmacology
Phytochemicals
phytochemistry
Reproductive sterilization
Review
Science
Skin diseases
traditional uses
Typhoid
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Summary:Blechnum L. is a genus belonging to the Blechnaceae family with 236 accepted species that grow in intertropical, subtropical, and southern temperate regions. Several species of the genus have long been used in folk medicines to treat a broad spectrum of ailments, including typhoid, urinary infections, influenza, wounds, pulmonary complaints, blisters, boils, and antihelmintic-related complications. So far, about 91 chemical compounds have been isolated from different parts of 20 Blechnum species. Among these metabolites, phenolic compounds, sterols, and fatty acids are the main constituents. Modern pharmacological investigations revealed several isolated compounds and extracts to exhibit exceptional biological properties including the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, insecticidal, antitrematocidal and wound healing. In various tests, both quercetin-7′,3′,4′-trimethoxy and phytol metabolites showed potential antioxidant and antitrematocidal properties, while ponasterone exhibited insecticidal activity. Despite having a broad range of traditional medicinal benefits and biological properties, understanding the scientific connotations based on the available data is still challenging. This article presents a comprehensive review of the traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and pharmacological aspects of the Blechnum species.
ISSN:1424-8247
1424-8247
DOI:10.3390/ph15070905