REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Dela Cruz et. al (2017) examined the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant

activity and anti-inflammatory activities of the rhizome and frond methanolic extracts of

selected tree ferns were determined using spectrophotometric methods. In this study, six

phytochemicals were observed in the methanolic extracts of the frond and/or rhizome of

the three fern species: alkanoids, anthraquinoenes, phenolics, saponins, tannins, and

terpenoids. The result showed the presence of phenolics and saponins were detected in all

extract. The high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of M. punctatum rhizome

suggest that it can be regarded as a promising natural source of antioxidant and anti-

inflammatory compounds.

Anto et al (2015) investigated the antibacterial activity of five selected species of

pteridophytes. Column chromatography was used in this study. By using this method, the

extracts of various solvents are made and they are petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone

and methanol extracts. It became clear that the five selected pteridophytes such as

Ceratopteris thalictroides, Christella dentata, Lygodium flexuosum, Pteris vittata and

Salvinia molesta possess antibacterial activity. The activity may be due to the presence of

some phytochemicals, which can be later identified. The most effective result of this study

point that the Petroleum ether extract of Salvinia molesta against E. coli shows 88 % of

inhibition against E. coli. The Petroleum ether extract of Salvinia molesta shows the 104%

of inhibitory effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The Petroleum ether extract of all five

plants show 82% inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Petroleum ether extract of
Lygodium flexousum show 77% of inhibitory effect against Bacillus cereus. These results

show the petroleum ether extract of plants are most useful and most effective drug against

the selected microbes. Especially the Petroleum ether extract of Salvinia molesta shows the

104 % of inhibitory effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae. So the inhibitory compounds are

dissolved in the Petroleum ether extracts. The Petroleum ether extracts of plants will be

effective against gram negative bacteria. The pure compound extraction and application in

animals is necessary for the future study.

Bahadori (2015) studied the antibacterial evaluation and preliminary

phytochemical screening of selected ferns from Iran. The antimicrobial activity of the

methanol extracts of Polypodium interjectum Shivas, Polystichum woronowii Fomin,

Polystichum aculeatum (L.) Roth., Dryopteris affinis (Lowe) Fraser-Jenk, Athyrium filix-

femina (L.) Roth, Asplenium scolopendrium L., Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. and Pteris

cretica L., was screened by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and

minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against two Gram positive and Gram

negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, using standard assays. The

maximum activity was exhibited by the extract of Dryopteris affinis with MIC value of 2

µg/mL. Polystichum aculeatum showed the same antibacterial potential against S. aureus.

Some of the extracts had strong antibacterial activity (2-8 µg/mL) and others demonstrated

moderate activity. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of some important

secondary metabolites in Iranian fern species. Triterpenoids and polyphenols were present

in rhizome and aerial part of all plants. Total flavonoid contents range was 1.66 to 44.22

mg of catechin equivalents per gram of dry extract.

 Nagaran and Britto (2014) evaluated the antibacterial activity of different parts of

medicinal fern specifically Marselia minuta. The study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial

activity of different plant parts of Marselia minuta L. (rhizome, frond and sporocarp) found

around the Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu. By using agar cup diffusion method, they measured the

antimicrobial activity, while the antibacterial activity screened against Gram +ve and Gram

–ve bacteria. Collected plant materials are dried and the soluble extracts are made using

organic solvent like ethanol. The results revealed that greater the area of inhibition zone

indicates the presence of good potentiality of antimicrobial activity and rhizome and frond

extracts show good antimicrobial activity than sporocarp.

Deliu (2013) studied the antimicrobial activity of some extracts of ferns

gametophytes. The extracts were gained from gametophytic stage of ferns obtained in vitro.

The most obvious effect was observed for Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum extract. The

antimicrobial activity of fern extracts was tested by disc diffusion method, on 5 bacterial

strains: Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus sp. and Escherichia coli strains isolated from

human microbiota; strains 23S (B 23S) and 21F (B 21F) isolated from soil. Standard

antibiotic discs (Ampicillin 10µg, AMP) were used as a positive control; the negative

control was the solvent, methanol, respectively ethanol. The results showed that in terms

of polyphenols and flavonoids content have some differences between fern species and

between methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the same species. This study signified the

content of total polyphenols was in general higher for ethanolic fern extracts than

methanolic ones, with small differences. The highest polyphenolic content was determined

for extracts of Asplenium trichomanes and Polypodium vulgare. Methanolic fern extracts

presented a higher content of flavonoids. The highest content of flavonoids was determined
for methanolic extract of Polypodium vulgare. Among all extracts, methanolic and

ethanolic extracts of Polypodium vulgare denoted high values for both polyphenolic and

flavonoids content.

Pal (2013) studied the antimicrobial activity of ferns. Antimicrobial activities are

measured using agar cup and diffusion method. Greater the area of inhibition zone indicates

the presence of good potentiality of antimicrobial activity. A large number of common

ferns are collected and among them some species are found having antimicrobial activity.

Based on the results, five species show antimicrobial activity against both gram positive

and gram negative bacteria.

Ponnusamy et al. (2013) experimented on the antioxidant and antibacterial

properties of Malaysian ferns used traditionally against infection. The plant extracts were

evaluated for their antioxidant activities using total phenols content, DPPH and FRAP

assays, while the antibacterial assays were evaluated by disc diffusion and dilution

methods. Results showed that the methanol extracts of S. palustris and D. linearis were

found to have significant antioxidant properties and were able to inhibit the growth of

almost all bacteria tested at minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.5 – 1 mg/ml. The

antioxidant and antibacterial effects of S. palustris and D. linearis support their use in

traditional medicine for the treatment of infection and wound injuries.

Britto (2012) examined the potential antibacterial ferns against Xanthomonas and

Aeromonas bacteria. This study focused on screening the effect of antibacterial of Indian

medicinal fern of Pteris biaurita L. on bacterial strains like Xanthomonas campestris (plant

pathogen) and Aeromonas hydrophila (animal pathogen). By using agar disc diffusion and

serial dilution method, the solvents extraction of the fern were petroleum ether, benzene,
chloroform, methanol and water. The water and petroleum ether extracts of the fern showed

minimum inhibition against the bacterial strains investigated. The most active antibacterial

extracts were methanol and benzene. The significant antibacterial activity of active extracts

was compared with the standard antibiotics, kanamycin (30 µg/disc) and neomycin (10

µg/disc). The results obtained that Pteris biaurita L. can be used in treating plant and animal

diseases caused by the test organisms.

Gracelin et al. (2012) studied the antibacterial screening of a few medicinal ferns

against antibiotic resistant phyto pathogen. The aim of the study is to control the pathogen

in biocontrol method by screening the phytochemicals and antibacterial activity of

petroleum ether, chloroform, benzene, methanol and aqueous extracts of fronds of five

ferns (Pteridophytes) Adiantum caudatum, Angiopteris evecta, Pteris confusa, Pteris

argyraea and Lygodium microphyllum against X. c. pv. c. The results showed that the

methanol extracts of all the ferns gave successful result against the tested bacteria.

Phytochemical analysis of all the extracts revealed that antibacterial activity is due to the

presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. According to the results of MIC

(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and RPI (Relative Percentage Inhibition) values,

Angiopteris evecta could be used as potential plant for the management of pathogenic

bacteria, X. c. pv. c which is known to cause diseases on many vegetables and cash crops

particularly Centella asiatica.

Pal (2012) investigated the study of solvent extracts of some selected ferns for

antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activities were measured by the disc diffusion

method. The result showed that in the Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd) H.I acetone extract

was suitable than other solvent for Gram negative and ethanol extract for Gram positive
bacteria. In Gleichenia microphylla R.Br acetone extract for Gram positive and methanol

extract for Gram negative bacteria showed better antimicrobial activity. In Microsorium

pteropus (Bl.) Copel acetone extract showed good activity for both Gram positive and

Gram negative bacteria. In Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth had good antimicrobial activity

in acetone extract for both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria.

Soare et al (2012) investigated the studies regarding the antibacterial activity of

some extracts of native pteridophytes. Antibacterial activity was performed by agar well

diffusion method. The results showed that the most evident antibacterial effect was

demonstrated for Cystopteris fragilis gametophytic extract. Escherichia coli and the

bacterial strain isolated from soil was the most sensitive bacterial strains at extract’s

activity were Escherichia coli and the bacterial strain isolated from soil.

Ganguly et al (2011) conducted the phytochemistry and antimicrobial activity of

crude extracts and extracted phenols from an epiphytic fern. By using Agar cup method,

they measured the antimicrobial activity. Crude extracts and extracted phenols from

sporophytic parts of epiphytic fern Arthromeris himalayensis (Hook.) Ching belonging to

the family Polypodiaceae were studied against Bacillus subtilis AR-2 (Gr +ve) and

Escherichia coli XL1-Blue (Gr -ve). The result revealed that the crude extracts and

extracted phenols from sporophytic plant parts showed antimicrobial activities. Detailed

observations revealed that crude extract shows better antimicrobial activity than extracted

phenol.

Mandal and Mondal (2011) investigated the studies on antimicrobial activities of

some selected ferns and lycophytes in Eastern India with special emphasis on ethno-

medicinal uses. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was assayed by the conventional agar
cup method. The experiment revealed significant results like Dryopteris, which showed

remarkable antimicrobial activities among all the selected ferns.

Kormin (2010) studied the potential of modified microwave extraction system on

extracting bioactive components from ferns. In this study, modified microwave extraction

system has been designed to extract bioactive component purpose. The selected ferns are

Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.) and Stenochleana palustris (Bedd.) have medicinal values

which is should not be overlooked by medicinal chemists and pharmacologists, either for

modern treatment applications or for research purposes. This study aims to propose a novel

extraction device based on microwave technology which is quicker and allow substantial

saving in energy and cost for the extraction of bioactive component. The paper disc

diffusion method will employed to each sample of extracted oil from both ferns obtained

during the CCD experiments and determine the antimicrobial activity. The result of this

study revealed that microwave system for the extraction of bioactive components is a

logical consequence of the significant rate enhancement and higher product yield afforded

by a modified novel microwave technology and the increase in productivity afforded by

raw material chemistry.

Parihar et al (2010) examined the in vitro antibacterial of fronds of some important

pteridophytes. The main object of this study is to screen various unexploited plants for their

antimicrobial activity as these pteridophytic plants are being used ethanomedicinally. By

using Disc diffusion method, Bacterial strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Escherichia

coli, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus were procured

from the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh and the aqueous and

alcoholic leaves extract of twelve important pteridophytic plants were prepared and tested
for their antimicrobial activity against the bacteria selected. It has been observed that,

nearly all the leaves extracts have shown inhibitory effect against the bacterial strains

selected and some of the extracts were more competent than the selected antibiotic. These

pteridophytic plants are considered to be the disease free plants and are being used

ethanobotanically by various tribal communities and are further screened for their in vivo

potential as well as for their drug properties.

Zurain (2010), conducted the study to investigate the medicinal ferns in search for

more effective and non-toxic pharmacological natural compounds. Methanol of extracts

from winged bean Stenochlaena palustris root, stem and leaf extracts were tested for their

antimicrobial activity against 15 microbial species, including 10 bacterial pathogens, one

yeasts, and four molds using the disk diffusion assay technique. The leaf extract was found

to be most effective against all of the tested organisms, followed by the stem and root

extracts. The results investigation appear to indicate that S. palustris of Malaysian Edible

fern have higher potential antimicrobial properties.

Lai et al (2009) studied the antioxidative and antibacterial activities of leaf extracts

from the selected medicinal ferns. The antioxidative activity was measured by assays for

radical scavenging against 11diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric ion reducing power

(FRP), beta-carotene bleaching (BCB) and ferrous ion chelating (FIC). The results revealed

B. orientale to possess the highest amount of total polyphenols and strongest potential as a

natural antioxidative, tyrosinase inhibiting and antibacterial agent as demonstrated by its

strong activities in all related bioassays. The other ferns with antioxidative potential were

C. barometz and D. linearis. Except for A. aureum, all ferns showed antibacterial activity

which may justify their usage in traditional medicines.