Polypodium vulgare Linn. (Bisfaij): A critical review on its ethnopharmacological, phytopharmacological and therapeutic properties

Abstract

Medicinal herbs are a gift to humanity to attain a healthy lifestyle as they have tremendous therapeutic potential. Polypodium vulgare Linn. is one of those plants that has been used for centuries in almost all older medicinal systems worldwide. In Unani classical literature, it is been given that Bisfaij is effective in treating various health ailments such as Malikholia, epilepsy, leprosy, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiac disorders, etc., however, being an essential medicinal rhizome, it has been scientifically validated and reported to have a number of pharmacological activities including, antipyretic, antiviral, antiepileptic, analgesic, hypotensive and neuro-psychopharmacological activity. These activities are often attributed to its diverse chemical constituents, which include polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The integration of traditional knowledge with scientific evidence underscores the plant's potential as a valuable resource for pharmaceutical and healthcare. This review critically evaluates the scientific evidence supporting the traditional uses and pharmacological activities of P. vulgare, shedding light on its therapeutic potential and encouraging further research to harness its medicinal properties for the benefit of humanity.