Male Fern

Scientific Name(s): Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott, Dryopteris marginalis (L)
Common Name(s): Aspidium, Bear's paw, Knotty brake, Male fern, Marginal fern, Shield fern, Worm fern

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 21, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

D. filix-mas has been used as a traditional vermifuge. Investigations into potential applications of related species, particularly Dryopteris crassirhizoma and Dracaena fragrans, report antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, but no clinical trials support these claims.

Dosing

Clinical evidence does not support specific doses of male fern, and toxicities have been reported with traditional doses.

Contraindications

Male fern extract is potentially toxic.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented. Traditional use of male fern extract combined with castor oil increases absorption of the extract, resulting in enhanced toxicity.

Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions associated with traditional doses have included headache, dyspnea, nausea, diarrhea, vertigo, tremors, convulsions, and cardiac and respiratory failure. Impaired vision and jaundice have also been reported.

Toxicology

Male fern extract is potentially toxic.

Scientific Family

• Dryopteridaceae
• Polypodiaceae (wood fern)

Botany

D. filix-mas is a hardy, ornamental fern with semievergreen leaves that can grow up to 1 m in length. Stalks are scaly and pale brown and each leaf grows from the root base. Its rhizomes and frond bases are used medicinally. The plant grows throughout the United States in dry terrain, in rich woods, and on rocky slopes. Originally thought to be the male plant of Athyrium filix-femina (female fern), it was given the name "filix-mas."Franchi 1988, Khan 2009, Step 1905, USDA 2015

History

Male fern has been used in traditional medicine as a vermifuge ("worm fern"), with the early Greeks and Romans also recognizing the plant’s value in destroying or expelling parasitic worms.Franchi 1988 In Chinese medicine, the extract has been used to treat wounds, recurrent nosebleeds, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The components of the plant have also been used as veterinary vermifuges. D. Filix-mas formerly listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP).Khan 2009

Chemistry

Major constituents of Dryopteris ferns include flavonoids and terpenoids.Cao 2013, Han 2015 Male fern contains approximately 6% to 15% of an oleoresin, which contains several chemical constituents including filicins (filicic/filixic acid, albaspidin, flavaspidic acid), aspidinol, alkanes, triterpene hydrocarbons, lignins, volatile oils, and resins.Franchi 1988, Khan 2009 Margaspidin, para-aspidin, phloraspin, and other constituents have also been described.Han 2015, Khan 2009

Uses and Pharmacology

Vermifuge

Animal data

Filicin and filmarone are active vermifuges, particularly toxic to tapeworms.Duke 2002, Khan 2009

Clinical Data

An older clinical study examined the anthelmintic effects of male fern administered via intubation as compared with the effects of piperazine.Goodwin...