Cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity and phenolic content of eight fern species, from north of Iran

Background: Although ferns possess great potential because of some interesting medicinal properties, the phytochemical potential of ferns is relatively unexplored. Due to the lack of scientific evidence to support the traditional use of fern species in Iran, the present work focuses on evaluating the phenolic content, cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties of these plants. Methods: Toxicity of extracts was assessed by the brine shrimp test. Screening of antioxidant capacity of the rhizome and aerial parts of eight fern species was carried out using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The total phenol content (TPC) of the methanol extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results: Compared to podophyllotoxin (with LC50 of 30 µg/ml), Athyrium filix-femina and Pteris cretica demonstrated a significant cytotoxic activity (with LC50 of 6.1 and 15.5 µg/ml, respectively). The methanol extract of Polystichum aculeatum was found to have significant antioxidant properties with IC50 value of 0.45 ± 0.02 µg/ml. Athyrium filix-femina exhibited the strongest ABTS radical scavenging activity (29.85 ± 1.39 µmol Trolox/g plant). Conclusion: Rhizome parts generally had higher DPPH scavenging capacity and showed better ABTS scavenging activity than aerial parts. Results showed that these ferns could be used for discovery of new and biologically active natural compounds.