Adiantum Research Articles

The structure of Chlamydomonas LOV1 as revealed by time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography.

The photo-reaction of the LOV1 domain of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii phototropin is investigated by room-temperature time-resolved serial crystallography. A covalent adduct forms between the C4a atom of the central flavin-mononucleotide chromophore and a protein cysteine. The structure of the adduct is very similar to that of LOV2 determined 23 years ago from the maidenhair fern Phy3.

Embolism propagation in Adiantum leaves and in a biomimetic system with constrictions.

Drought poses a significant threat to forest survival worldwide by potentially generating air bubbles that obstruct sap transport within plants' hydraulic systems. However, the detailed mechanism of air entry and propagation at the scale of the veins remains elusive. Building upon a biomimetic model of leaf which we developed, we propose a direct comparison of the air embolism propagation in Adiantum (maidenhair fern) leaves, presented in Brodribb et al. (Brodribb TJ, Bienaimé D, Marmottant P. 2016 Revealing catastrophic failure of leaf networks under stress. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 113, 4865-4869 (doi:10.1073/pnas.1522569113)) and in our biomimetic leaves. In particular, we evidence that the jerky dynamics of the embolism propagation observed in Adiantum leaves can be recovered through the introduction of micrometric constrictions in the section of our biomimetic veins, mimicking the nanopores present in the bordered pit membranes in real leaves. We show that the intermittency in the propagation can be retrieved by a simple model coupling the variations of pressure induced by the constrictions and the variations of the volume of the compliant microchannels. Our study marks a step with the design of a biomimetic leaf that reproduces particular aspects of embolism propagation in real leaves, using a minimal set of controllable and readily tunable components. This biomimetic leaf constitutes a promising physical analogue and sets the stage for future enhancements to fully embody the unique physical features of embolizing real leaves.

Phytochemical Screening and α-Glucosidase Inhibitor Activity of Aerial Parts of Maidenhair Fern: <i>Adiantum lunulatum</i>

Background: Medicinal plants and herbs are used extensively in traditional medicine to treat and manage a wide range of conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its after-effects. As diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly and is mostly caused by changes in lifestyle, the use of traditional medicines for its treatment and management has increased. Fern extracts have demonstrated tremendous potential in the management of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems and neurological disorders. A prominent class of type 2 antidiabetic drugs and α-glucosidase inhibitors work by lowering postprandial hyperglycemia. Aim: The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to assess any possible inhibitory effects of aerial portions of the Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum lunulatum Burm). Methods: Using extracts of Adiantum lunulatum derived from methanolic and chloroform solvents, the research team performed phytochemical screenings to ascertain if the extracts could stop α-glucosidase. Results: Minimising the postprandial plasma glucose spikes is achieved by delaying the absorption of carbs and glucose by inhibiting the activity of α-glucosidase. The chloroform extract of Adiantum lunulatum exhibited an IC50 value of 705.02 ± 2.122 μg/ml and the methanol extract exhibited an IC50 value of 526.12 ± 1.155 μg/ml. Acarbose was used as a positive control with an IC50 value of 314.11 ± 1.021 μg/ml. The methanol extract exhibited more potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity than other extracts. The phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids. The microscopic study of the rachis of the fronds was carried out which showed the presence of a single layer of epidermic, sclerenchyma, stele and exarch xylem which helps in authentication. Conclusion: These findings can pave the way for the development of novel medicinal compounds derived from the Maidenhair Fern and bring more standardisation to the use of traditional herbal therapies for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Another garden escaped fern in Luxembourg – Adiantum aleuticum (Rupr.) C.A.Paris (Pteridaceae)

Adiantum aleuticum (Rupr.) C.A.Paris, the western maidenhair fern, was discovered in June 2022 in a basement light shaft in Ettelbruck, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The present paper relates the first discovery of this exotic garden escaped fern in Luxembourg. Identification was based on morphological traits and DNA barcoding.

The first homosporous lycophyte genome revealed the association between the recent dynamic accumulation of LTR-RTs and genome size variation.

The contrasting genome size between homosporous and heterosporous plants is fascinating. Different from the heterosporous seed plants and mainly homosporous ferns, the lycophytes are either heterosporous (Isoetales and Selaginellales) or homosporous (Lycopodiales). Many lycophytes are the resource plants of Huperzine A (HupA) which is invaluable for treating Alzheimer's disease. For the seed-free vascular plants, several high-quality genomes of heterosporous Selaginella, homosporous ferns (maidenhair fern, monkey spider tree fern), and heterosporous ferns (Azolla) have been published and provided important insights into the origin and evolution of early land plants. However, the homosporous lycophyte genome has not been decoded. Here, we assembled the first homosporous lycophyte genome and conducted comparative genomic analyses by applying a reformed pipeline for filtering out non-plant sequences. The obtained genome size of Lycopodium clavatum is 2.30Gb, distinguished in more than 85% repetitive elements of which 62% is long terminal repeat (LTR). This study disclosed a high birth rate and a low death rate of theLTR-RTs inhomosporous lycophytes, but the opposite occurs inheterosporous lycophytes. we proposethat the recent activity of LTR-RT is responsible forthe immense genome sizevariation between homosporous and heterosporous lycophytes. By combing Ks analysis with a phylogenetic approach, we discovered two whole genome duplications (WGD). Morover, we identified all thefive recognized key enzymes for the HupA biosynthetic pathway in the L. clavatum genome, but found this pathwayincompletein other major lineages of land plants. Overall, this study is of great importance for the medicinal utilization of lycophytes and the decoded genome data will be a key cornerstone to elucidate the evolution and biology of early vascular land plants.

Adiantum viscosum (Pteridaceae), a new species endemic to sclerophyllous forest of Central Chile

Adiantum viscosum (Pteridaceae) is a new species of fern endemic to Central Chile that inhabits the sclerophyllous forest of the Valparaíso Region. Adiantum viscosum is morphologically similar to A. gertrudis and A. glanduliferum, but it differs by the presence of capitate and glandular trichomes throughout the aerial portion of the plant (pinnules, rachis, petioles and petiolules), which produce a sticky and aromatic resin. We provide a description of the species based on morphological analysis, insights about its ecology and habitat, distribution map, illustrations, a proposal for a conservation category according IUCN criteria, and a taxonomic key to the species of the genus Adiantum present in Chile.

The Review on the Antimicrobial Potential of Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. or Maidenhair fern is a perennial fern that belongs to the family Pteridaceae. It is widespread in temperate and tropical regions with high humidity. A. capillus-veneris has a long history of medicinal use, and recent investigations suggest the presence of many bioactive compounds in this plant. This review debates the antimicrobial potential of Adiantum capillus-veneris in a comprehensive manner that includes data about the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. Data regarding the antimicrobial potential of A. capillus-veneris were collected from scientific databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The largest number of reviewed studies were related to the antibacterial activity of extracts made from A. capillus-veneris plant. Mainly, leaves, stems, roots, and rhizomes were tested, while water, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane were used as solvents. For the testing of antimicrobial susceptibility, standard tests were implemented, such as the disk-diffusion method, agar dilution method, and determination of MIC and MBC values. There are also studies testing the antibiofilm effects of the investigated plant. Our review showed that A. capillus-veneris exhibits large antibacterial potential, with the capacity to inhibit the growth of different bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. The antifungal and antiviral activity of the investigated plant was also recorded. This review summarized data regarding the antimicrobial potential of A. capillus-veneris and suggests that future phytochemical investigations of ferns may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic agents.

An updated account of Adiantum (Pteridaceae: subfamily Vittarioideae) in Thailand

An updated account of Thailand’s maidenhair ferns, Adiantum L. (Pteridaceae), is presented. The genus consists of 20 taxa, including 19 indigenous and 1 naturalised, distributed in various habitats throughout Thailand, and 5 of them are endemic. We accept A. fragiliforme and A. ciliatum as distinct species on the basis of our investigation. We also accept infraspecific taxa within A. philippense, namely A. philippense subsp. philippense and A. philippense subsp. intermedium. Revised descriptions of A. fragiliforme and A. gomphophyllum from southern Thailand are provided, as is an updated key to the species of Adiantum in Thailand, and vernacular names and conservation status assessments.

The genome of homosporous maidenhair fern sheds light on the euphyllophyte evolution and defences.

Euphyllophytes encompass almost all extant plants, including two sister clades, ferns and seed plants. Decoding genomes of ferns is the key to deep insight into the origin of euphyllophytes and the evolution of seed plants. Here we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of Adiantum capillus-veneris L., a model homosporous fern. This fern genome comprises 30 pseudochromosomes with a size of 4.8-gigabase and a contig N50 length of 16.22 Mb. Gene co-expression network analysis uncovered that homospore development in ferns has relatively high genetic similarities with that of the pollen in seed plants. Analysing fern defence response expands understanding of evolution and diversity in endogenous bioactive jasmonates in plants. Moreover, comparing fern genomes with those of other land plants reveals changes in gene families important for the evolutionary novelties within the euphyllophyte clade. These results lay a foundation for studies on fern genome evolution and function, as well as the origin and evolution of euphyllophytes.

Bazı Bitki Kaynaklarının Farklı Çözgenlerde Hazırlanan Ekstrelerinin Antimikrobiyal Aktivitesinin Araştırılması

Bu çalışmada, aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), aynısefa (Calendula officinalis), baldırıkara (Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn.) ve kudret narı (Momordica charantia) bitkileri gibi bazı bitki kaynaklarının farklı çözgenler kullanılarak hazırlanan ekstrelerinin antimikrobiyal aktivitesinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla, bitkilerin n-hegzan, etanol, metanol ve distile su içerisinde maserasyon yöntemi ile ekstreleri hazırlanmış ve hazırlanan ekstrelerinin, Staphylococcus aureus ve Escherichia coli bakterilerine karşı antibakteriyel; Aspergillus niger mantarına karşı antifungal aktivitesi incelenmiştir. Çalışma sonuçları, ekstraksiyonda kullanılan bitki kaynağının ve çözgen türünün ekstrelerin antimikrobiyal aktivitesi üzerinde oldukça önemli olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

Study of the effect of alcoholic extracts of Maidenhair fern and corn silk in breaking up kidney stones out of living body

This study was conducted on a number of patients with kidney stones, as (60) samples were collected for patients from Baghdad hospitals, while recording the necessary information about the patients. As the results of the analysis on stones taken from 60 patients with kidney stones that shows the materials involved in the formation of the stones were analyzed and the following percentages were calcium 60%, phosphate 30%, oxalate 30%, uric acid 5%, ammonium 3%, magnesium 2%, carbonate and cysteine 0%. Some chemical discoveries have been made of the active compounds in plants, such as the active substances in the coriander plant are tannins, saponins, steroids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds, and the absence of coumarins. As for maize stigmas, the active substances are the presence of coumarins, saponins, steroids, phenolic compounds, and glycosides. The presence of tannins, and the toxicity of plant extracts was revealed, as it showed the non-toxicity of maidenhair and the toxicity of corn stigma. The effect of the alcoholic extracts of plants on the gravel weight and the percentage of degradation outside the body, as well as the concentrations of liberated phosphates, uric acid, calcium, and the acidic function of each of the alcoholic extracts of coriander and corn stems were estimated before adding the gravel and after adding it, and it was calculated over a period of four weeks.

Notes on the ecology and distribution of the annual fern Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link. (Pteridaceae) in Northern districts of Iraq

The study involved the description of the environmental characters and distribution of Anogramma leptophylla (Annual Maidenhair fern) in Erbil and Garmian districts during May- 2017 in Kurdistan of Iraq. The geographical distribution of the taxa was recorded in Bani Bee region for the first time within the Garmian district but it was recorded before in the Zar Gali region within the Erbil district. The climatic characters of the studied site in Erbil district were: moist, cold and the elevation was up to 560 m above sea level with sandy clay soil texture whereas in the Garmian district: dry, hot, and the elevation was only 330 m above sea level with sandy stone soil. Plant up to 13 cm long, megaphyllous, fronds compound 3-6 cm long, divided into alternate petiolate pinnae. In the present work, some ecological, morphological, and geographical distribution for A. leptophylla is described for the first time in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

Taxonomy and spore morphology of genus Adiantum (Vittarioideae; Pteridaceae) from Pakistan.

Taxonomy and spore morphology of genus Adiantum (Vittarioideae; Pteridaceae) from Pakistan is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images based upon the specimens examined in herbaria of Pakistan, United Kingdom, and United States. A total of five species viz. Adiantum capillus-veneris, A. incisum subsp. incisum, A. pedatum subsp. pedatum, A. tibeticum, and A. venustum were reported with the habitat ecology of the species from Pakistan. Spore morphology of the taxa was trilete, triangular in proximal and distal view, ellipsoidal and hemicircular in equatorial view, polar proximal and distal surface was with tuberculate and granulose ornamentation.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Niosome System Containing Adiantum Capillus-Veneris for Breast Cancer Therapy

Background: Due to the increase in cancer and side effects of common therapies, researchers are looking for treatments with the least side effects, which is why medicinal plants have become so important. Adiantum capillus-veneris L. plant commonly called southern maidenhair fern, and also named as “Pare-siavashan” in medical and pharmaceutical textbooks of Iranian Traditional Medicine, contains triterpenoid compounds that have anti-tumor properties. It is a perennial fern with narrow stems and small leaves that grows in hot and humid places. This study aims to make biocompatible nanosystems carrying Adiantum capillus-veneris extract with an appropriate loading rate and to compare the anti-tumor properties of the extract-carrying system with its free state. Materials and Methods: After Extracting by Soxhlet, the resulting extract was loaded in the nano-niosome system by thin-film method and was subjected to physical, chemical, and cellular characterization. Results: The results of this study showed that the loading rate of Adiantum capillus-veneris extract in niosomic formulation is 50.74% and the resulting particles are spherical with a size of 325.7nm and anionic. No chemical interactions were found between niosome and extract and the resulting system was chemically stable. Conclusion: Based on acquired results, the designed system has acceptable anti-cancer properties on MCF7 cell line. It is notable that the cell survival rate was about 19 %.

Studies on Fern of Lesser Sunda Islands I: Checklist of the Genus Adiantum (Pteridaceae)

Adiantum or maidenhair fern is one of the largest genera in Pteridaceae. We survey their species diversity in Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia through the living collection and herbarium examination. Seventeen species of Adiantum were recorded. including five species that considered as introduced and naturalized species. One species that grows naturally, Adiantum silvaticum, were previously known as endemic to Australia. However, this study revealed the new distribution of this species on Sumba and Flores.

In vitro and in vivo anticancer efficacy of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. against some selected human cancer cell lines and on EAC mouse model

Adiantum capillus-veneris, commonly known as maidenhair fern belongs to family Pteridaceae, has traditionally been used in various medicinal preparations as demulcent, expectorant, emmenagogue, diuretic etc. in the form of oil, paste, decoction and powder. It has also prominent role in hair growing and has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-nociceptive and antioxidant properties of therapeutic interest. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of fractions of ethanolic extract isolated from the aerial part of A. capillus-veneris against some human cancer cell lines such as colon (HCT-116), lung (A549), breast (MCF-7) and pancreatic (MIA PaCa-2) and tumor cell proliferation/inhibition was assessed using MTT assay. The in vivo anticancer activity of hexane fraction was also evaluated against murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model. The results confirmed that all the fractions of ethanolic extract exhibited promising in vitro inhibition of tumor cell proliferation when tested against different human cancer cell lines. Among all, hexane fraction proved to be more effective having IC50 values 21.72, 22.67, 26.25 μg/mL, for HCT- 116, A-549, MCF-7, respectively, but chloroform fraction revealed to be more cytotoxic against Mia-PACA-2 having IC50 value 14.72 μg/mL. Higher cytotoxic activity is found to be associated with lower IC50 values. The findings showed that all five fractions exhibited dose-dependent killing capabilities in various human derived cancer cell lines at 48 h of treatment. Hexane fraction was found to inhibit tumour growth development by 16.95%, 41.12% and 82.07% at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Additionally, this fraction was predicted to be non-toxic at the tested doses. The findings indicate that A. capillus-veneris herb is an antineoplastic agent and suggest that further studies evaluating the isolation of active antitumor compounds from A. capillus-veneris and their mechanism(s) of action are necessary.

A consistent taxonomic treatment for dimorphic variation in New Zealand Adiantum species

ABSTRACTRecent treatments have recognised seven species indigenous to New Zealand in the fern genus Adiantum. Most of these species display dimorphism with respect to the presence or absence of hairs on the abaxial pinna surfaces, or the nature of the hairs themselves. Taxonomic treatment of these dimorphisms has not been consistent, with variation sometimes treated at the specific or varietal levels, or not recognised at all. Morphological variation in the pinna hair characters of all indigenous species is examined here, and the taxonomic significance of the variation reassessed to bring a consistent approach to classification in New Zealand Adiantum. It is concluded that glabrous and hairy variants should not be given taxonomic recognition, but should be considered dimorphisms within those species that are distinguished on the basis of other morphological characters. As a consequence, A. viridescens is reduced to synonymy with A. fulvum, since the two cannot be distinguished by any character other than the glabrous or hairy nature of the pinnae.

Study on Gametophytes of Four Species of Maiden Hair Ferns (Adiantum L.) and Their Systematic Implications

Matured spores of four (4) species of maiden hair ferns namely, Adiantum capillus-veneris L., A. caudatum L., A. edgeworthii Hook. and A. incisum Forssk. were collected and grown in petri-dishes containing natural media formed by mixing dead wood of tree fern (Cyathea Sm.), sand and charcoal powder (2:1:1). The cultures in triplicates for each species were monitored every day from the stage of sowing to the chimera formation. After disintegration of gametophytes, juvenile sporophytes were shifted to pots and morphological characters were studied till the dehiscence of sporangia. Spore germination initiated between 4-6 days for A. capillus-veneris, 7-9 days in A. caudatum and A. incisum and 10-12 days in A. edgeworthii. Prothallia in all the Adiantum are autotrophic, Vittaria type, cordate-shaped, homosporous with antheridia developing earlier than archegonia and remain confined on the adaxial surface. The gametophytes showed considerable variation in their shapes, orientation of lobes, presence or absence of hairs and placement of sex organs on the prothallia. The gametophytic and sporophytic characters are correlated and used in structuring key to species. The study concludes that gametophytic characters also constitute a dependable criterion for assessing their systematics.

ECOLOGICAL OUTCOME OF ALLOPOLYPLOIDY IN ADIANTUM (PTERIDACEAE): NICHE INTERMEDIACY AND EXPANSION INTO NOVEL HABITATS

What are the ecological consequences of allopolyploid speciation in ferns? In northeastern North America, this question is relevant to the Adiantum pedatum complex. Adiantum viridimontanum (Green Mountain maidenhair fern) is an allotetraploid hybrid derived from a sterile cross between the serpentine-restricted diploid species A. aleuticum (Aleutian maidenhair fern) and the rich-woods diploid species A. pedatum (northern maidenhair fern). In this study, we characterized the ecological niche of the allotetraploid hybrid maidenhair fern relative to the niches of its two progenitors by establishing 48 survey plots at 13 sites where the three species occur in Vermont and by measuring a set of ecological attributes in each plot, including the habitat type, light availability, topography, substrate characteristics, and soil chemistry. These data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) to characterize the multivariate ecological niche of each species as circumscribed by the position of survey plots in environmental space. Along the first principal component, the ecological niche of the allotetraploid was situated between those of its progenitors in environmental space, closely overlapping the niche of A. aleuticum and slightly overlapping that of A. pedatum. Along the second principal component, a portion of the ecological niche of the allotetraploid was transgressive relative to the niches of its progenitors in environmental space; in geographic space, these survey plots correspond to northern hardwood serpentine-influenced forests, a habitat type that is novel for the species complex. Thus, the ecological outcome of allopolyploid speciation in the A. pedatum complex appears to include elements of both niche intermediacy and niche expansion into novel habitats.

The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of the Southern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) on the Depression and Anxiety Caused by Chronic Stress in Adult Male Mice: An Experimental Randomized Study

The Protective Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of the Southern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) on the Depression and Anxiety Caused by Chronic Stress in Adult Male Mice: An Experimental Randomized Study