An updated review of pharmacological, and phytochemical potency of Aleuritopteris bicolor

Introduction

Aleuritopteris, also referred to as Silver or Lip Ferns, is a genus with significant morphological variation, especially in frond arrangement, which has historically resulted in a variety of taxonomic divisions in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres [1] . The genus, which has about 40 species, is known for its distinctive farinose indumentum and propensity for mostly xeric habitats [2] . Recent molecular phylogenetic investigations generally maintain Aleuritopteris as a separate genus, despite some taxonomic ambiguity, especially with regard to its differentiation from Cheilanthes [1] . The small to medium-sized terrestrial fern Aleuritopteris bicolor belongs to the Pteridaceae family and is indigenous to South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia [3,4] . William Roxburgh first identified the species as Pteris bicolor in 1844, but it has since undergone multiple taxonomic changes. It was first classified under Cheilanthes and Hemionitis before Fraser-Jenkins moved it to Aleuritopteris in 2009 [7] . It generally inhabits in dry forests, rocky slopes and scrublands. It's bipinnate fronds, which often have a silvery farinosa covering on the underside, help prevent loss, and it flourishes in exposed, xeric conditions. In addition to being valued aesthetically for its striking leaf, A. bicolor helps to stabilise soil and colonise damaged areas. Because of its distinctive bicoloured appearance, it is commonly referred to as "Silver Fern". Due to its wide distribution and taxonomic complexity, it is an important species for floristic and ecological studies in the region [3,4,7] . In addition to A. bicolor's ecological significance in soil stabilisation and the colonisation of disturbed habitats, recent phytochemical studies have revealed the presence of several bioactive constituents, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, coumarins, saponins, glycosides, and terpenes [8,9] . Numerous important compounds, such as chlorogenic acid, quercetin derivatives, kumatakenin, and cheilanthenetetraol, a new sesterterpenoid, have been identified by improved LC-MS research, highlighting the plant's wide phytochemical features [8] . These phytochemicals are associated with a variety of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, analgesic, and cytotoxic effects against hepatocellular carcinoma cells [9,10] . Strong free-radical scavenging activity (DPPH IC 50 ≈ 9.87 μg/mL), notable analgesic activity (up to 38.89% increase in response time in the hot-plate test), significant anti-inflammatory effects (36.44% reduction in carrageenaninduced paw oedema at 500 mg/kg), and ɑ-amylase inhibitory activity (IC 50 ≈ 59.31 μg/mL), which may have hypoglycemic effects [8,10] . Traditional Indian and Nepalese medical systems have long utilised this fern to treat diarrhoea, wounds, fever, and gastritis. These ethnomedicinal applications are supported by recent pharmacological studies [6,9] . A. bicolor's role as a hardy fern in rocky environments and its increasing importance as a source of natural medicinal agents make it a valuable species for ecological and biomedical research [8][9][10] . Because of its ethnomedicinal importance and emerging pharmacological potential, A. bicolor has attracted considerable attention in natural product research. This short review aims to summarize current knowledge on the plant's ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities while identifying future research directions.

Taxonomy and Classification

Kingdom

Geographical Distribution

Numerous nations in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia, have Aleuritopteris bicolor [3, 5, 7. ] Reports from several Indian regions, such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and the Himalayan foothills, show that it can adapt to a wide range of climatic zones [3,10] . Generally, it is located on rocky hill slopes, dry woodlands, open scrublands, and disturbed terrains. This fern thrives in xeric (dry) environments, which are unsuitable for many fern species [2,5] . It may colonise exposed rocky settings because of its fronds, which are often covered in a silvery farinose layer on the abaxial surface as a response to intense sunlight and limited water availability [5] . From an ecological perspective, A. bicolor serves as a pioneer species that promotes vegetation succession in delicate environments and maintains soil on rocky slopes [7,10] . The topographical distribution of Aleuritopteris bicolor was shown in Figure 1.

Chemical constituents

Phytochemical analysis of Aleuritopteris bicolor has identified a wide range of bioactive substances that support its therapeutic potential. In addition to particular components like chlorogenic acid, quercetin derivatives, kumatakenin, and cheilanthenetetraol (a novel sesterterpenoid), studies have revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, saponins, tannins, coumarins, and triterpenes [4,11,13] . These phytochemicals are well known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic qualities [14,17] . These pharmacological properties corroborate the traditional use of this fern in ethnomedicine to treat wounds, diarrhoea, gastritis, and fever in several parts of South Asia [13][14] . Therefore, A. bicolor provides scientific evidence for its ethnomedical applications and is a potential source of natural therapeutic agents due to its rich phytochemical composition. The chemical structure of the active compounds present in Aleuritopteris bicolour were shown in Table 1.

Pharmacological activities of Aleuritopteris bicolor

Extracts from Aleuritopteris bicolor were discovered to have a number of pharmacological properties that are supported by both experimental and ethnomedical studies. With the results displayed in this review, several studies showed varying pharmacological activity.

Antioxidant Activity

Several in vitro experiments have demonstrated Aleuritopteris bicolor extracts' remarkable antioxidant capacity. In the DPPH experiment, the ethanolic extract showed exceptionally strong free radical scavenging activity with an IC [21] value of about 9.87 μg/mL, indicating a significant capacity to neutralise reactive oxygen species. The extract's remarkable performance in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging assays further supported its antioxidant capacity. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds, such as derivatives of quercetin and chlorogenic acid, are primarily responsible for this activity. By providing hydrogen atoms or electrons to free radicals, these compounds stabilise them and shield cellular macromolecules from oxidative damage. The plant's antioxidant capacity supports its traditional use in oxidative stress-related ailments such as inflammation and metabolic problems [4,11,13] .

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effect

The carrageenan-induced paw oedema model has been used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory qualities of A. bicolor in experimental animals. Paw oedema was suppressed by roughly 36.44% when the ethanolic extract was given at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, indicating a significant decrease in the initial inflammatory response. The analgesic potential was also assessed using the hot-plate test; treated animals showed ab38.89% increase in reaction time, indicating an enhanced pain threshold. These effects may be caused by flavonoids, coumarins, and triterpenoids, which suppress inflammatory mediators, including prostaglandins and cytokines. These findings offer scientific support for the fern's traditional use in the treatment of oedema, pain, and inflammatory disorders [13] .

Antibacterial Activity

The antibacterial qualities of A. bicolor extracts have been evaluated against several dangerous bacterial species. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts moderately to significantly inhibited both Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, and Gramnegative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Zones of inhibition ranging from 12 to 20 mm have been reported, depending on the extract amount. This antibacterial activity is mostly caused by phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds that can harm microbial cell walls, block enzymatic systems, and disrupt bacterial metabolic pathways. These traits suggest that A. bicolor may be a naturally occurring antibacterial agent [14] .

Antidiabetic Activity

Studies on glucose absorption and α-amylase inhibitory tests have demonstrated the antidiabetic potential of A. bicolor. The extract effectively inhibited α-amylase with an IC 20 value of around 59.31 μg/mL, suggesting that it may slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce postprandial glucose levels. Additionally, in vitro glucose absorption tests demonstrated improved glucose utilisation in treated samples. These findings are consistent with the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, and glycosides, all of which are known to regulate insulin signalling pathways and carbohydrate metabolism. These results thus provide scientific support for the fern's traditional use in the treatment of diabetes and hyperglycemia [16] .

Cytotoxic and Anticancer Activity

A recent phytochemical study has identified several bioactive sesterpenoids and flavonoid derivatives from A. bicolor, including cheilanthenetetraol. These compounds have been demonstrated to have cytotoxic effects on Hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines in vitro, and cell viability studies have shown moderate inhibitory action. The anticancer effect is believed to be mediated by mechanisms such as oxidative stress regulation, cell growth suppression, and apoptosis induction. These findings highlight A. bicolor's potential as a source of innovative anticancer medicines made from natural ingredients [14] .

Ethnomedicinal Validation

A. bicolor has long been used in traditional South Asian medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, fever, gastritis, diarrhoea, and wounds. Local communities regularly use the plant paste topically to treat wounds and drink decoctions to treat digestive disorders, according to ethnobotanical surveys [3,7,8] . By providing scientific support for these ancient methods, contemporary phytochemical and pharmacological research has closed the gap between ethnomedicine and modern pharmacological research. The summary of pharmacological activities of Aleuritopteris bicolor was shown in Table 2. Tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds [11, 13] Antidiabetic Properties α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀ ≈ 59.31 µg/mL); improved glucose uptake in vitro Flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides [12, 14] Cytotoxic/Anticancer Cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines; apoptosis induction and proliferation inhibition Sesterterpenoids (cheilanthenetetraol), flavonoid derivatives [13] Ethnomedicinal Validation

Traditionally used for wounds, gastritis, diarrhoea, and fever; applied externally and consumed as decoctions.

Broad phytochemical spectrum supporting traditional use

Conclusion

Aleuritopteris bicolor is a medicinal fern with considerable ethnomedicinal relevance and promising pharmacological properties. Scientific studies confirm its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic activities, largely attributed to its rich phytochemical composition. Despite encouraging experimental evidence, further studies, including mechanistic investigations and clinical evaluations, are necessary to validate its therapeutic potential and facilitate the development of novel phytopharmaceutical agents.

Declarations

References

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