Physio-Chemical Studies on the Biologically Active Constituents of Ferns in Pakistan

Abstract

The research problem was focused on the isolation and structure determination of constituents from a few ferns available in Pakistan by using physio-chemical methods. The ferns actually make a bridge between lower and higher plants. Some ferns occur abundantly while others are found rarely in the northern regions of Pakistan. Most of the ferns are reported to have terpenes, terpenoids and glycosides. These compounds are of either mono- di- or tri- specifically pentacyclic terpenes and terpenoids. Some of them have been reported to possess steroidal compounds. The present study was aimed at to extract and isolate organic compounds from the root – stalk of ferns available in various parts of Pakistan. A through survey during collection of the plants under investigation revealed that: 1)These plants have hair – like structure, i-e, rhizomes. While other ferns such as Gleichenia japonica and Dicranopteris pedate (two Japanese species) bear thick roots commonly referred to as root – stalk and are found in abundance in the Hiroshima prefecture (Japan). 2)These plants occur in a very poor quality only in area of Swat and Abbottabad at a height ranging from 2000m to 2500m, on damp places under stones. 3)The leaves of Adiantum incisum are bi-pinnate, close together, pinnules delicate, petiole brown, blade ovate in outline, pinnae are broader than long. The lobes in the upper part are incised, glabrous, with broad rounded truncate lobes. 4)The leaves of A. venustum are tri-pinnate, sub-ovate, incise, petiole black and shinning, pinnules wide spread with black stalk, fan-shaped, broader than long, crenately lobed in the upper part, sori born close together along the veins of the recurred part of the lobes. 5)The quantity of the ethanolic extract was not substantial. 6)However, the quantity of the newly and known compounds was a little bit appreciable. 7)The expected compounds were isolated i-e, terpenoids and steroids. 8)The isolated new compounds were also biologically tested using specific enzymes but unluckily no activity was observed.