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Botany
Caudex is stout, erect and densely covered with glossy brown
scales. Stipes are erect, 10-40 cm long. Fronds are 20 to 200 cms long
and 10 to 40 cms wide. Pinnas are sessile, 5 to 20 cms long and 0.5
to 2 cms wide. Sori are arranged in a long coninuous line close to the
costae.
Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines.
Constituents and properties
Considered anthelmintic, antiviral, contraceptive
and tonic.
Phytochemistry showed essential oil, phenolic compounds and triterpenoids.
Uses
Folkloric
Used as poultife for boils.
Used for urinary complaints.
In China,
the rhizomes are used as anthelmintic.
The Malays eat them.
In India, used for impotence;
boils in infants and older children, diarrhea,
Used to stop wound bleeding.
In Malaysia, used for
abscesses, blisters and sores; poultice of young leaves for furuncles
and boils.
One of the plants used for fungal skin infections, esp ringworm: Plant
is pounded with some kerosene and applied to affected areas. (source)
In Papua New Guinea, new fronds are eaten to induce sterility
in women. (source)
Studies
• Antibacterial:
Antibacterial effect could come from the bioactive constituents of essential
oil, phenolic compounds and triterpenoids.Study showed antibacterial
activity, greatest against P vulgaris and less with B subtilis and S
aureus.
• Studies on immunomodulatory and anthelmintic properties.
• Blechnum orientale is one of the herbal components of Blechni
Rhizoma, an anti-viral formulation. (souirce)
• Cytotoxicity / Breast Cancer: In vitro studies on the cytotoxic potential of three plants – Blechnum orientale, Tectaria singaporeana and Tacca integrifolia showed the roots displayed the highest cell mortality. All three plants - roots, leaves and stems - showed cytotoxic potential.
• Polyphenols / Antioxidative / Antibacterial: Study of the leaf extracts of five medicinal ferns – A aureum, Asplenium nidus, Blechnum orientale, C barometz and D linearis– showed B orientale to possess the highest amount of total polyphenols and strongest potential as antioxidant, tyrosinase inhibition and antibacterial.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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