Bioactives and Pharmacology of Pteridophytes

Pteridophytes, also known as ferns, are non-flowering plants and comprise over 12000 species spread over 337 genera. Distributed in both tropical and temperate forests, pteridophytes, which include lycophytes as well, have been the source of remedies for the treatment of human diseases since time immemorial. They are an important source of bioactive phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, phenyl propanoids, lignans, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, coumarins, chromones, quinones, and xanthones. Pteridophytes exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and nephroprotective properties. In this new book, Bioactives and Pharmacology of Pteridophytes, the bioactives and pharmacology of selected medicinal plants of pteridophytes are thoroughly presented and explained. A brief introduction is given for each of the more than 80 medically important pteridophyte species, and the bioactive compounds and their chemical structures are detailed, followed by their pharmacological activities. The chapters review the published literature on the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities on that species. This comprehensive desk reference on bioactives and pharmacology of pteridophytes will be a valuable sourcebook for the development of new drugs for the benefit of mankind.