Ethnomedicinal uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological importance of pteridophytes used by Malayalis in Kolli hills, India: A quantitative survey

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The medicinal value of pteridophytes has been known to humans since ancient times; however limited data is available about their phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties. Hence, this study was planned to document medicinal usage of pteridophytes by Malayali people in Kolli hills of Eastern Ghats, India. Existing information on phytoconstituents, previous reports on similar therapeutic uses and pharmacological activities for the documented species were compiled. Methods: Fieldwork was conducted from October 2015 to September 2016 and ethnomedicinal data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires from the healers in the study area. The collected data were analyzed through fidelity level (FL) and informants consensus factor (ICF) and recorded illnesses were sorted into 17 ailment categories for the purpose of statistical calculations. Results: A total of 55 species of medicinally important pteridophytes representing 23 families and 38 genera were identified in the study. Mostly fronds were used for preparation of medicine (37 %). Powder (31 %) was one of the dominant preparation methods in treating various ailments. Highest FL (100 %) was recorded for 24 species and highest ICF was recorded for kidney problems (0.90). Conclusions: The present study has an important contribution towards the preservation of indigenous knowledge which is being eroded among younger generations. Most of the frequently used species documented in this study are scarcely explored in phytochemical and pharmacological aspects, despite their remarkable usage among the Malayalis. Hence, this study stresses the need for phytochemical, toxicological and clinical studies on documented species of pteridophytes for the discovery of active molecules and new drug sources.