Edible and Medicinal Pteridophytes of Nepal: A Review

Abstract

Background: Traditional use of pteridophytes as food and medicine is a common practice around the world. Many ethnic communities hold vast knowledge about the uses of pteridophytes and the documentation of such knowledge and biodiversity of edible and medicinal pteridophytes is important for health care, food security and conservation. Although being one of the biodiversity rich countries, the detailed use of edible and medicinal pteridophytes from Nepal is not well documented and they are one of the underutilized plant resources having vast potential. Thus, the aim of this review is to compile the knowledge about the use of edible and medicinal pteridophytes in Nepal.Methods: Relevant information on traditional uses as medicinal and edible species were collected form published literatures such as research articles on ethnobotanical surveys, books, book chapters and conference proceedings.Results: The literature survey revealed that a total of 26 species of pteridophytes were used as food and 43 species were used as traditional medicines. Among 55 useful species, 14 species were used as both food and traditional medicine. Diplazium esculentum, Diplazium maximum, Dryopteris cochleata and Ophioglossum reticulatum were common edible species and Aleuritopteris albomarginata, Equisetum ramosissimum, Nephrolepis cordifolia and Tectaria coadunata were common medicinal pteridophytes. Most of species are growing in natural habitat and the potential utilization species were sold in the market which has also supported livelihood. Some of these pteridophytes were also used in preparation of ethnic foods such as fermented foods and pickles. Conclusion:Findings from the study suggested that only a few common species of pteridophytes are used as food and traditional medicines Nepal. The knowledge about the traditional uses of pteridophytes and their biodiversity is also affected by socioeconomic changes in communities, lack of sharing of traditional knowledge through generations, improper collection practices and climate change. Very few pteridophytes from Nepal have been studied in detail for their phytoconstituents and biological activities and safety. Future research activities should focus on providing scientific evidence for traditional uses as well as development of proper conservation, cultivation, and product formulation methods in a sustainable manner.

A comprehensive review on Nepalese wild vegetable food ferns

“…We could not find proper documentation for these pteridophytes as wild edible ferns of Nepal; therefore, they are omitted in the list. The pteridophytes, which consumed for the medicinal values, but not eaten as salad or cooked vegetables, are also not included in the table [ 71 ].…”

“…It has been recently reported that there are 582 taxa of pteridophytes in Nepal [ 72 ]; however, Nepalese researchers have not been focused in the ethnopteridological studies in traditional medicinal knowledge, food safety and phytoconstituents present in the pteridophytes. At the same time, surprisingly, very few scientific studies have been carried out globally in the areas of the chemical constituents and pharmacological activites of pteridophytes [ 71 ]. In this section, we accumulate available information on the distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacognosy and phytochemistry of the wild edible ferns listed in Table 1 .…”

A note on an edible fern of Nepal: Blechnum orientale L.

“…A total of 24 species of edible ferns are reported to be consumed in Nepal in the form of vegetable and pickles (Ojha & Devkota 2021). Pteridaceae is the family with the highest number of edible and medicinal species in Nepal (Ojha, & Devkota 2021).…”

“…A total of 24 species of edible ferns are reported to be consumed in Nepal in the form of vegetable and pickles (Ojha & Devkota 2021). Pteridaceae is the family with the highest number of edible and medicinal species in Nepal (Ojha, & Devkota 2021). Diplazium esculentum is one of the most common vegetables of fern and other species such as Diplazium maximum, Ophioglossum petiolatum, Dryopteris cochleata, etc.…”

Exploring wild Aspleniaceae ferns as safety sources of polyphenols: The case of Asplenium trichomanes L. and Ceterach officinarum Willd.

“…Nevertheless, Asia-Tropical has approximately three times more reviewed literature uses of ferns than South America (7). Ferns are currently considered a source of polar phytochemicals as phenolic acids and flavonoids with therapeutic and nutritional value in eastern countries, especially in Nepal, India, and China (8)(9)(10). This is the case of some ferns described in the traditional Chinese medicine, as the case of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae) (10).…”