Phytochemistry of Indian Pteridophytes: A Review

Abstract

In the present review, an attempt is made to provide an update on the phytochemistry of Indian pteridophytes, covering the recent findings concerning the phytochemical composition of crude extracts and their histochemical, spectroscopic and chromatographic profiles. Primary and secondary metabolites of Indian pteridophytes qualitative and quantitative profiles are taken into consideration. A report on the preliminary phytochemical analysis of 170 species, primary and secondary metabolites quantitative profiles of 115 species, histochemical profiles of 61 species, chromatographic profile (amino acids and sugar) of 43 species, TLC profile of 14 species, HPLC and HPTLC profiles of 23 species and GC-MS profiles of 32 species is included for the present review. The results confirmed the existence of the secondary metabolites, viz. phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, triterpenoids, glycosides and alkaloids, in the Indian pteridophytes. The available literature on phytochemistry confirmed that Indian pteridophytes are a pool of therapeutic agents. The outcome of the preliminary phytochemical studies on the qualitative and quantitative profiles of Indian pteridophytes revealed the chemical constituents and therapeutic values and provided the chemical marker for the studied pteridophytes. These profiles will be used as phytochemical markers for the identification of the species in the pharmaceutical industries and to find a solution for the taxonomical disputes. Further studies on the isolation and characterization of active principles responsible for the bioactivity are needed.KeywordsChromatographyHistochemistryMetabolitesSpectroscopyFernsFern allies