A comprehensive review on Diplazium esculentum: A traditional edible fern of North East India with broad pharmacological significance

Abstract

Diplazium esculentum, commonly known as the vegetable fern, is a widely consumed edible plant across Asia and Oceania, valued for both its nutritional and medicinal properties. Traditionally used in folk medicine, this fern is rich in bioactive compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic acids, contributing to a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. This review compiles the ethnobotanical significance, phytochemical profile, and scientifically validated therapeutic potentials of D. esculentum, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, and anticancer properties. Experimental studies also highlight its anti-ulcer, analgesic, antipyretic, diuretic, antifertility, and anti-plasmodial effects, validating its traditional uses. Its diverse pharmacological actions are likely attributed to the synergy of its phytochemicals, supporting its potential as a functional food and a source for future drug development. Further clinical studies are warranted to establish its efficacy, safety, and dosage for medicinal use.