filix mas (male fern)

part used

the dried rhizomes and frond (whole blade + stalk) bases of Drypteris filix mas, family polypodiaceae

should be used within one year after collection as a long storge↓ activity and interior becomes brown

morphology (whole organ)

1- frond base

2- rhizome densely covered with numerous brown membranous scales ramenta (triangular in shape, one cell in thickness, and has 2 characteristic: 2 small unicellular glands at the base + margin shows 2-celled teeths/projection

histology

1- cuticle

2- hypodermis

3 - starch

4- sclerenchyma capsule

5- endodermis

6- pericycle

7- xylem

8- phloem

9- parenchyma

ground tissue is rounded parenchyma cells containing starch

cells leave large intercellular spaces lined by a thin cuticle for unicellular club-shaped internal trichomes to grow (secrete a greenish-oleo-resin)

T.S contains dictystele VB

key elements

1- little odor

2- Sweet and astringent taste at first but becomes bitter and nauseous

3- shows green starchy interior

4- par. with glandular hair and starch

5- scalariform xylem vessels

6- ramenta with 2-celled marginal teeth

7- starch

8- non-lignified hypoderm

active constituents

1- filmarone (yellow amorphous ester of hilicic acid and aspidinal) + (tricyclic phlavoglucinal derivative

2- filic acid

3- aspidinal

4- flav aspidic acid

5- lavaspidinal

6- albaspidin

7- fixed ails

8- resin

9- starch

uses

1- vermifuge to tapeworms (kills and expels them)

2- irritant poison (in large doses)

toxicity

not taken with castor oil purgative (↑ absorption of filmarone) causes blidness → can be taken with saline purgative

adulterants

1- lady fern (show ramenta but with an entire margin and no glandular trichomes)

2- shield fern (show numerous unicellular, spherical glandular trichomes)