Medical Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity
of the Ferns of Moorea, French Polynesia

Nicole Baltrushes
May 2006

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For convenience, summary tables of pteridophyte medicinal use
from the complete paper are provided below:
Children and Infant Health
Women's Health
Men's Health
General Health
Plants with Multiple Uses

The Global use of Pteridophyte Genera present on Moorea in
Children and Infant Health Maintenance

Ailment	Tahitian Pteridophyte Treatment	Pteridophyte treatments from other locales
Boils: Given to nursing mother to cure boils in infants, given to older children		Blechnum orientale- India (Dhiman 1998)
General tonic for invigoration		Blechnum orientale-Yap (Defilipps et al 1988)
Cleansing bath for newborns	Davallia solida- Moorea (You-Sing 2005)
Child's purgative	Ophioglossum reticulatum (Whistler 1992) Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)
Septic umbilical cord	Ophioglossum reticulatum (Whistler 1992)
Ira and He'a ailments	Ophioglossum reticulatum (Whistler 1992)
Child's influenza		Microsorum membranifolium-Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Tranquilizer		Sphenomeris chinensis- Sarawak (Christensen 1997)

The Global use of Pteridophyte Genera present on Moorea
in Women's Health Maintenance

Ailment	Tahitian Pteridophyte Treatment	Pteridophytes used in Treatments in other locales
Sterility	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)	Dicranopteris linearis-India (Vasudeva 1999)
Menstrual Disorders:		Lygodium reticulatum and Nephrolepis exaltata- Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Tectaria circutaria – India (Dhiman 1998)
Amenorrhea	Microsorum grossum rhizomes (Petard 1972)
Dysmennorrhea	Microsorum commutatum (Petard 1972) Microsorum grossum, Davallia solida (Grepin and Grepin 1984)	Lygodium flexuosum- India (Dhiman 1998)
Pregnancy-promote healthy pregnancy	Microsorum grossum, Davallia solida (Petard 1972)	Acrostichum aureum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Birth-aid in parturition		Pteris tripartite, Nephrolepis exaltata- Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Post-Partum care/strengthening		Microsorum grossum and Microsorum membranifolium –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Uterine hemorrhage	Davallia solida (Petard 1972, Grepin and Grepin1984) Microsorum grossum (Grepin and Grepin 1984) Ophioglossum reticulatum (Petard 1972)
Contraception		Asplenium nidus – Vanuatu (Bourdy et. al 1996) Nephrolepis cordifolia, Adiantum lunulatum- India (sterility) (Dhiman 1998) Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Leucorrhea	Ophioglossum reticulatum or Microsorum grossum, Davallia solida (Petard 1972, Grepin and Grepin 1984)
Gonorrhea	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)

The Global use of Pteridophyte Genera present on Moorea
in Men's Health Maintenance

Ailment	Tahitian Pteridophyte treatment	Pteridophyte treatment from other locales
Spermatorrhea		Lygodium flexuosum –India (Dhiman 1998)
Impotence		Blechnum orientale-India (Dhiman 1998) Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Testicular pain	Microsorum grossum (Grepin and Grepin 1984)

The Global Use of the Pteridophyte Genera present on Moorea
in the maintenance of General Health

Effected system	Ailment/use	Tahitian Pteridophyte Treatment	Pteridophyte Treatment in different locales
Nervous System	Headache/ migraine	Asplenium australasicum- Moorea (Elders, Lucie, 2005) Asplenium australasicum -(Petard 1986) Ophioglossum reticulatum (Whistler 1992) Microsorum grossum- Moorea (Lucie, Elders 2005)	Angiopteris evecta, Lygodium flexuosum – Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Angiopteris evecta - Yap (Defilipps et al 1988) Ophioglossum reticulatum - India (Vasudeva 1999) Microsorum grossum –Palau (Defilipps et al 1988)
	Epilepsy/ seizures		Diplazium cochleata-India (Dhiman 1998) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
Respiratory	Cough		Marsilea minuta –India (Dhiman 1998, Vasudeva 1999) Asplenium caudatum- India (Vasudeva 1999) and Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Asplenium lunulatum –India (Reddy et al 2001) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
	Sinus pains		Acrostichum aureum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Expectorant		Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Lygodium flexuosum, Lygodium japonicum, Adiantum venustum, Adiantum capillus-veneris- India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Sore throat		Asplenium polyodon -Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Davallia solida-Yap (Defilipps 1988) Acrostichum aureum -Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Asthma		Davallia solida and Dicranopteris linearis- Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Breathing disorder		Microsorum grossum–Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Shortness of breath		Microsorum mebranifolium –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Gastrointestinal System	General		Blechnum spicant –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Vomiting	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)
	Emetic		Adiantum venustum (Vasudeva 19990
	Stomachache		Microsorum membranifolium, Microsorum grossum - Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Indigestion		Lygodium reticulatum, Dicranopteris linearis - Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Ophioglossum pendulum –Yap (Defilipps 1988)
	Diarrhea		Nephrolepis hirsutula – Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Hymenophyllum denticulatum –Sarawak (Christensen 1997) Blechnum spicant –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Hemorrhoids (piles)		Lygodium reticulatum, Dicranopteris linearis –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Adiantum venustum, Lygodium flexuosum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Constipation (laxative, purgative)	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972) Davallia solida (Whistler 1992)	Acrostichum aureum, Psilotum nudum- Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Asplenium adiantum-nigrum –India (Vasudeva)
	Heartburn	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)
	Loss of appetite		Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
	Enteritis		Sphenomeris chinensis – India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Gastric ulcers		Dicranopteris linearis – Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Renal System	General disorder		Nephrolepis cordifolia – India (Dhiman 1998)
	Diuretic		Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Diplazium dilatatum, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum venustum -India (Vasudeva 1999) Selaginella bryopteris –India (Dhiman 1998)
Urinary system
	Bed-wetting		Microsorum grossum, Angiopteris evecta –Yap/Palau (Defilipps 1988)
Liver System	General disorder		Nephrolepis cordifolia –India (Dhiman 1998)
	Jaundice		Lygodium flexuosum –India (Dhiman 1998) Asplenium adiantum-negrum (Vasudeva 1999)
	Liver cancer	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)
Skin	General disorder		Lygodium flexuosum –India (Dhiman 1998) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993) Nephrolepis cordifolia –India (Dhiman 1998)
	Blisters/ Boils/ Abscesses/ Sores	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)	Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Microsorum membranifolium, Angiopteris evecta –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Nephrolepis biserrata –Sarawak (Christensen 1997) Blechnum orientale –Sarawak (Christensen 1997) and –Malaysia (Fasihuddin et al 2003)
	Wounds-	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972) Nephrolepis hirsutula – Moorea (Lucie, Elders)	Christella parasitica –Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Lygodium flexuosum, Adiantum venustum -India (Vasudeva 1999) Acrostichum aureum –Yap (Defilipps 1988) Ophioglossum vulgatum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Wounds-blood clotting		Selaginella ciliaris –Manipur (Singh 2001) Blechnum orientale- Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
	Abraded skin		Lycopodiella cernua –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Stings and bites		Diplazium cochleata – India (Dhiman 1998) Trichomanes elegans –Colombia (Nunez et al 2004) Lygodium pinnatifidum –India (Dhiman 1998) Ophioglossum reticulatum, Asplenium nidus-Yap/Palau (Defilipps 1988) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993) Adiantum venustum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Eczema		Lygodium flexuosum- India (Vasudeva 1999)
Musculo-Skeletal system
	Fractures/ Sprains	Davallia solida, Microsorum grossum–Moorea (Elders 2005) Microsorum grossum (Whistler 1992, Petard 1972)	Microsorum membranifolium, Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Muscle cramps		Microsorum membranifolium –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Sprain muscles		Microsorum membranifolium, Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Lygodium flexuosum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Rheumatism		Diplazium cochleata –India (Dhiman 1998) Lycopodiella cernua –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Lygodium flexuosum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Convulsions		Dicranopteris linearis –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Arthritis		Microsorum grossum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Reproductive System
	Gonorrhea	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)	Lygodium flexuosum -India (Vasudeva 1999) Selaginella bryopteris –India (Dhiman 1998)
	Herpes		Adiantum incisum –India (Dhiman 1998) Lygodium japonicum –Nepal (Taylor et al 1996)
Dental
	Dental pain		Psilotum nudum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Microlepia scaberula –Hawaii/Fiji (McClatchey 1993)
Ocular
	Eye disease		Marsilea minuta –India (Dhiman 1998) Microsorum grossum –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
Blood/Whole body infection
	Ciguatera/ Fish poisoning		Davallia solida –New Caledonia (Benoit 2000) Microsorum grossum, Microsorum membranifolium –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Ptomaine poisoning		Angiopteris evecta, Microsorum grossum –Yap/Palau (Defilipps 1988)
	Worms (anthelmintic treatments)	Microsorum grossum (Petard 1972)	Blechnum orientale, Tectaria polymorpha, Dicranopteris linearis –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Elephantiasis		Acrostichum aureum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Fungoid ulcer		Lycopodiella cernua –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
	Leprosy		Diplazium cochleata –India (Dhiman 1998)
	Scabies		Lygodium flexuosum –India (Vasudeva 1999)
	Lice		Asplenium nidus –Manipur (Singh 2001)
	Blood disorder		Huperzia serrata –China (Zangara 2003) Tectaria circutaria –India (Dhiman 1998)
	Malaria		Hymenophyllum denticulatum –Sarawak (Christensen 1997)
	Cancer/ Sarcoma		Angiopteris evecta –Yap/Palau (Defilipps 1988) Microsorum grossum –Yap (Defilipps 1988) Pteris polyphylla –China (Lee 1988)
	Cancer/ Sarcoma		Angiopteris evecta –Yap/Palau (Defilipps 1988) Microsorum grossum –Yap (Defilipps 1988) Pteris polyphylla –China (Lee 1988)

The Global Use of the Pteridophyte Genera present on Moorea
used to address multiple disease conditions

Treatment	Tahitian Pteridophyte	Pteridophyte use in other locales
Febrifuge		Huperzia serrata –China (Zangara 2003) Acrostichum aureum, Asplenium tenerum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Adiantum capillus-veneris, Adiantum caudatum –India (Vasudeva 1999) Adiantum caudatum, Lygodium japonicum –Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002)
Antibacterial	Microsorum grossum (Whistler 1992)	Davallia solida, Lygodium reticulatum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Dicranopteris linearis-India (Vasudeva 1999)
Anti-inflammatory	Microsorum grossum (Whistler 1992)	Huperzia serrata- China (Zangara 2003) Selaginella bryopteris –India (Dhiman 1998)
Pain killer	Psilotum nudum (Whistler 1992)	Lygodium flexuosum –Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Adiantum ceneatum –Brazil (Bresciani et al 2003)
Chest pain		Asplenium nidus –Meghalaya (Gogoi 2002) Acrostichum aureum –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994) Microlepia scaberula –Rotuma (McClatchey 1993)
Appendicitis pain		Dicranopteris linearis –Fiji (Cambie and Ash 1994)
Breast pain		Lygodium microphyllum-Sarawak (Christensen 1997)
Astringent		Pteris ensiformis –Manipur (Singh 2001) Adiantum capillus-veneris –India (Vasudeva 1999)
General Health tonic		Diplazium esculentum –India (Dhiman 1998, Vasudeva 1999)
Unspecified use	Microsorum commutatum – Moorea (Lucie, Elders 2005) Bolbitis lonchophora- Moorea (Lucie 2005) Dicranopteris linearis- Moorea (Lucie, Elders 2005) Lycopodiella cernua- Moorea (You-Sing, Lucie 2005) Angiopteris evecta- Moorea (Elders 2005)	Psilotum nudum –India (Jha et al 2003) Microsorum punctatum –India (Irudayaraj and Jeyanath 1999) Nephrolepis hirsutula –Indonesia (Jafarsidik and Sutomo 1986) Marattia fraxinea –Tanzania (de Boer et al 2005) Selaginella labordei –China (Chen et al 2005) Selaginella pallescens –Mexico (Rojas et al 1999) Selaginella tamarascina –China (Yin et al 2005)