title: Nutrient values and bioactivities of the extracts from three fern species in China: a comparative assessment.
abstract: Pteridium aquilinum, Osmunda cinnamomea Linn, and Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching are three fern species widely consumed as potherbs and traditional medicinal herbs in China. Nevertheless, no detailed comparative assessments of their nutrient values and bioactivities have been reported. In this paper, we examined the nutrient content of these ferns and the bioactivities of their extracts with a comparative method. The results indicated that they were nutrient dense for proteins, carbohydrates, fat and minerals. Compared with Pteridium aquilinum and Osmunda cinnamomea Linn, the extract from Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching was found to possess the strongest antioxidant activity, protective effects on biomolecules, cellular antioxidant activity, and antiproliferative effects owing to its highest total phenolic (476.52 ± 11.26 mg GAE per g extract) and total flavonoid (924.81 ± 4.25 mg RNE per g extract) contents. Further, Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching can lead to caspase-3 activation, poly ADP-ribose polymerase cleavage, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) reduction and inhibition of wound-healing in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate the remarkable potential of Pteridium aquilinum, Osmunda cinnamomea Linn, and Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching as valuable sources of nutrients and natural antioxidants, and among which Athyrium multidentatum (Doll.) Ching has potential anticancer properties.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Chemistry and Nutrition of Food, College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China. xueboliu@aliyun.com xueboliu@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guoyuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Liuqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chunxia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yashi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Xuebo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D029624:Ferns / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts