Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Exploring the therapeutic potential of leaf extract of Nephrolepis brownii (Desv.) Hovenkamp & Miyam.: An integrative study on antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4564
Submitted
5 August 2024
Published
10-08-2025 — Updated on 16-08-2025
Versions

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a major worldwide health problem that is frequently associated to elevated oxidative stress. Medicinal herbs, recognized for their high antioxidant content, provide a potential approach to diabetes therapy. Despite their long history of usage in traditional medicine, ferns such as Nephrolepis brownii have received little attention in terms of therapeutic potential. Hence, the current study investigates the antioxidant activity of N. brownii leaf extract in water using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The anti-diabetic activities of the leaf extract are evaluated using α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests, with effectiveness compared to the standard medication acarbose. The results reveal substantial antioxidant potential in N. brownii leaf extract in water (70.0 % inhibition at 1000 μg/mL), comparable to the antioxidant activity of ascorbic acid. The extract showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of α-amylase (IC50: 67.70 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50: 76.37 μg/mL), albeit slightly less potent than acarbose. These findings highlight the potential N. brownii as a natural antioxidant and anti-diabetic agent and this is the first report on this plant. This work contributes valuable insights into the diverse therapeutic properties of N. brownii, indicating its potential as a natural source of antioxidants and a subject for further investigation in anti-diabetic research.

References

  1. 1. Hameed I, Masoodi SR, Mir SA, Nabi M, Ghazanfar K, Ganai BA. Type 2 diabetes mellitus: From a metabolic disorder to an inflammatory condition. World Journal of Diabetes. 2015;6(4):598–612. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v6.i4.598
  2. 2. Shaw JE, Sicree RA, Zimmet PZ. Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2010;87(1):4–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2009.10.007
  3. 3. Bhatti JS, Sehrawat A, Mishra J, Sidhu IS, Navik U, Khullar N, et al. Oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and related complications: Current therapeutic strategies and future perspectives. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 2022;184:114–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.03.019
  4. 4. Gurib Fakim A. Medicinal plants: Traditions of yesterday and drugs of tomorrow. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 2006;27(1):1–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2005.07.008
  5. 5. Cordell GA. Sustainable medicines and global health care. Planta Medica. 2011;77(11):1129–38. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1270731
  6. 6. Saxena M, Saxena J, Nema R, Singh D, Gupta A. Phytochemistry of medicinal plants. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2013;1(6):168–82.
  7. 7. Sharifi Rad M, Anil Kumar NV, Zucca P, Varoni EM, Dini L, Panzarini E, et al. Lifestyle, oxidative stress and antioxidants: Back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases. Frontiers in Physiology. 2020;11:552535.
  8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00694
  9. 8. Fiorin E, Sáez L, Malgosa A. Ferns as healing plants in medieval Mallorca, Spain? Evidence from human dental calculus. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 2019;29(1):82–90. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2718
  10. 9. Fiorentino TV, Prioletta A, Zuo P, Folli F. Hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and its role in diabetes mellitus related cardiovascular diseases. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013;19(32):5695–703. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612811319320005
  11. 10. Engwa GA, Nweke FN, Nkeh Chungag BN. Free radicals, oxidative stress related diseases and antioxidant supplementation. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2022;28(1).
  12. 11. Li X, Bai Y, Jin Z, Svensson B. Food derived non phenolic α amylase and α glucosidase inhibitors for controlling starch digestion rate and guiding diabetes friendly recipes. LWT—Food Science and Technology. 2022;153:112455.
  13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112455
  14. 12. Jakus V. The role of free radicals, oxidative stress and antioxidant systems in diabetic vascular disease. Bratislavské Lekárske Listy. 2000;101(10):541–51.
  15. 13. Leng VK. Isolation and structure elucidation of potent α glucosidase inhibitory bioactive compound from Stenochlaena palustris by SPE, HPLC and NMR. PhD [dissertation]. University Tunku Abdul Rahman; 2016.
  16. 14. Saeed MK, Zahra N, Abidi SH, Syed Q. Phytochemical screening and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) powder. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture. 2022;6(3):301–8.
  17. 15. Kwon YI, Vattem DA, Shetty K. Evaluation of clonal herbs of Lamiaceae species for management of diabetes and hypertension. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2006;15(1):107.
  18. 16. Shai LJ, Magano SR, Lebelo SL, Mogale AM. Inhibitory effects of five medicinal plants on rat α glucosidase: Comparison with their effects on yeast α glucosidase. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 2011;5(13):2863–7.
  19. 17. Gupta SK, Ghosal M, Biswas R, Saha B, Das A, Mandal P. Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of some ferns from Mawsynram of Meghalaya, India. International Journal of Current Science. 2014;12:E87–97.
  20. 18. Ozougwu JC. The role of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in oxidative stress. International Journal of Research. 2016;1(8):1–8.
  21. 19. Senanayake SN. Green tea extract: Chemistry, antioxidant properties and food applications—a review. Journal of Functional Foods. 2013;5(4):1529–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2013.08.011
  22. 20. Choudhury J, Majumdar S, Roy S, Chakraborty U. Antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening of two edible wetland pteridophytes Diplazium esculentum (Retz) Sw and Marsilea minuta L. – a comparative study. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research. 2017;3(9):195–203.
  23. 21. Fiorentino TV, Prioletta A, Zuo P, Folli F. Hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and its role in diabetes mellitus related cardiovascular diseases. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013;19(32):5695–703. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612811319320005
  24. 22. Lai HY, Lim YY, Tan SP. Antioxidative, tyrosinase inhibiting and antibacterial activities of leaf extracts from medicinal ferns. Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry. 2009;73(6):1362–6.https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.90018
  25. 23. Nurhasnawati H, Sundu R, Sapri S, Supriningrum R, Kuspradini H, Arung ET. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content of several indigenous species of ferns in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity. 2019;20(2):576–80. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d200238
  26. 24. Thilagam E, Parimaladevi B, Kumarappan C, Mandal SC. α Glucosidase and α amylase inhibitory activity of Senna surattensis. Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies. 2013;6(1):24–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jams.2012.10.005
  27. 25. Uuh Narvaez JJ, Segura Campos MR. Combination therapy of bioactive compounds with acarbose: A proposal to control hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Journal of Food Biochemistry. 2022;46(10):e14268. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfbc.14268
  28. 26. Dong Y, Sui L, Yang F, Ren X, Xing Y, Xiu Z. Reducing the intestinal side effects of acarbose by baicalein through the regulation of gut microbiota: An in vitro study. Food Chemistry. 2022;394:133561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133561
  29. 27. Bakhtiyarizadeh M, Mohammadipanah F, Ghasemi JB. In vitro and in silico pharmaceutical activities of the methylated cyclic pentapeptide, persipeptides. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2022;132(1):429–44. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.15231
  30. 28. Chai TT, Quah Y, Ooh KF, Ismail NI, Ang YV, Elamparuthi S, et al. Anti proliferative, antioxidant and iron chelating properties of the tropical highland fern, Phymatopteris triloba (Houtt) Pichi Serm (Family Polypodiaceae). Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2013;12(5):747–53. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v12i5.13
  31. 29. Tanzin R, Rahman S, Hossain MS, Agarwala B, Khatun Z, Jahan S, et al. Medicinal potential of pteridophytes—an antihyperglycemic and antinociceptive activity evaluation of methanolic extract of whole plants of Christella dentata. Advanced Natural and Applied Sciences. 2013;7(1):67–73.
  32. 30. Lam WY. Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant property, alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibitory activities of medicinal fern Christella dentata. PhD [dissertation]. University Tunku Abdul Rahman; 2014.
  33. 31. Kim NR, Chi LW, Lee CH. α Glucosidase inhibition activity of methanol extracts obtained from nine pteridophyte species native to Korea. Korean Journal of Plant Resources. 2013;26(4):411–6. https://doi.org/10.7732/kjpr.2013.26.4.411
  34. 32. Paul T, Banerjee S. In vitro evaluation of α amylase inhibitory activity & antioxidant potential of Pteris vittata L. with special reference to its HPTLC profile. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences. 2013;4(2):494–503.
  35. 33. Ojieh AE. Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Nephrolepis undulata leaves extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats. International Journal of Forensic Medical Investigation. 2019;5(1):34–41.
  36. 34. Sureshkumar J, Ayyanar M. Phytochemical composition and in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Nephrolepis auriculata (L.) Trimen: An unexplored ethnomedicinal fern. In: Marimuthu J, Fernández H, Kumar A, Thangaiah S, editors. Ferns. Singapore: Springer Nature; 2022. p. 571–84. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6170-9_24
  37. 35. Pal R, Teli G, Sharma B, Kumar B, Chawla PA. In vitro anti inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Nephrolepis cordifolia and molecular docking of its active chemical constituent. PharmAspire. 2021;13:21–7.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.