Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Polyphenolic Profile, Cytotoxicity and Cytoprotective Properties in Different Cell Lines

Abstract

Pteridophytes, represented by ferns and allies, are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Ferns have evolved independently of any other species in the plant kingdom being its secondary metabolism a reservoir of phytochemicals characteristic of this taxon. The study of the potential uses of Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as medicinal plant has increased in recent years particularly when in 2008 the European Medicines Agency published a monograph about the rhizome of this species. Our objective is to provide scientific knowledge on the polar constituents extracted from the fronds of P. vulgare, one of the main ferns of European distribution, to contribute to the validation of certain traditional uses. Specifically, we have characterized the methanolic extract of P. vulgare fronds (PVM) by HPLC-DAD and investigated its potential cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, ROS production and protective effects against oxidative stress by using in vitro methods. The 3T3, HaCaT, HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and A549 were the cell lines used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic behaviour of the PVM. HPLC-DAD was utilized to validate the polyphenolic profile of the extract. H2O2 and UVA were the prooxidant agents to induce oxidative stress by different conditions in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines. Antioxidant activity of in vitro PVM in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines was evaluated by ROS assay. Our results demonstrate that PVM contains significant amounts of shikimic acid together with caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoids such as epicatechin and catechin; PVM is not cytotoxic at physiological concentrations against the different cell lines, showing cytoprotective and cellular repair activity in 3T3 fibroblast cells. This biological activity could be attributed to the high content of polyphenolic compounds. The fronds of the P. vulgare are a source of polyphenolic compounds, which can be responsible for certain traditional uses like wound healing properties. In the present work, fronds of the common polypody are positioned as a candidate for pharmaceutical applications based on traditional medicine uses but also as potential food ingredients due to lack of toxicity at physiological concentrations.

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

“…Despite the low number of studies on ferns, the methanolic extract of their fronds is considered plant parts with a high amount of antioxidant phytochemicals ( 61 , 62 ). Currently, the extracts of Polypodiaceae ferns such as Polypodium leucotomos (aqueous extract) and Polypodium vulgare L. (methanolic extract) have been reported as antioxidant and cytoprotective agents in vitro ( 63 , 64 ). However, few ferns of the Aspleniaceae family, despite being the main ferns in Europe, have been studied as plant matrices for the contribution of antioxidant phytochemicals ( 14 ).…”

The Enhancement of the Photodynamic Therapy and Ciprofloxacin Activity against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains by Polypodium vulgare Rhizome Aqueous Extract

“…In traditional Polish medicine, polypody fern rhizome infusions were used as an expectorant and diuretic and were used exclusively for treating chronic nephritis and pyelonephritis [21,22]. P. vulgare is very rich in biologically active compounds, which belong to different classes of plant metabolites: saponins, triterpenoids, ecdysteroids, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolics [20,29,30,32,33]. UHPLC-MS analysis of PvE that was used in our study revealed the presence mainly of osladin and polypodoside A belonging to saponins, flavonoids: catechin derivatives and afzelechin, and ecdysteroid hormones: hydroxyecdysone and polypodine B.…”

Role of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial Changes in Premenstrual Psychosomatic Behavioral Symptoms with Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant Herbs, and Nutritional Supplements

“…The antioxidant is currently any chemical that prevents, slows, or reverses oxidative damage in the target molecule [ 81 ]. It is widely known that flavonoids have a higher antioxidant capacity due to their capacity to scavenge free radicals [ 81 ].…”

“…The antioxidant is currently any chemical that prevents, slows, or reverses oxidative damage in the target molecule [ 81 ]. It is widely known that flavonoids have a higher antioxidant capacity due to their capacity to scavenge free radicals [ 81 ]. Flavonoids are direct scavengers of ROS and RNS downregulation of radical-producing ones and upregulation of ROS-removing enzymes, hence acting as strong antioxidants.…”

“…Polypodium vulgare Linn. (Bisfayej) is indicated for various ailments such as melancholia, epilepsy, dementia, arthritis [81,82], abdominal pain, and other neurological diseases as it possesses brain and heart exhilarant properties [82]. Herbal medicines are pharmacologically proven for various properties such as tranquillizing 15 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity effect, memory retention improvement, analgesic, aldosterone antagonists, immune-modulator, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholinesterase inhibitory activity, smooth muscle relaxant, CNS depressant, and dopamine effect [83][84][85][86] (see Table 2).…”