Pityrogramma calomelanos
Pityrogramma calomelanos, commonly known as the fern brake, is a medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it has been traditionally utilized for treating skin ailments and parasitic infections. Modern research continues to explore its diverse phytochemical properties and significant potential in pharmacological applications.
- Scientific name: Pityrogramma calomelanos
- Family: Pteridaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, it is situated in the family Pteridaceae. Its taxonomic identification is completed by its placement in the genus Pityrogramma.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Polypodiinae | WCVP |
| Order | Polypodiales | WCVP |
| Family | Pteridaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pityrogramma | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Pityrogramma calomelanos, is recognized by various regional names across different languages. In Chinese, it is referred to as 粉叶蕨 (zh), 粉葉蕨 (zh-tw), or 粉叶蕨 (zh-cn), while in Indonesia, it is commonly known as Paku perak (id).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 粉叶蕨 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 粉葉蕨 | Wikidata |
| id | Paku perak | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 粉叶蕨 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across both the Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesian region, it can be found growing in the Azores and Madeira. Moving toward the African continent, its presence extends into West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it is documented in the countries of Burkina, Ghana, and Guinea. Consequently, the species occupies a broad range of tropical and subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Azores | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Sierra Leone | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as herringbone fern, utilizes various components for its therapeutic applications, though its medicinal potency is often extracted through specific preparation methods. While different parts of the herb may be used depending on the ailment, the most common way to harness its bioactive properties is through the preparation of decoctions. By boiling the plant parts, such as the leaves or stems, in water, the active phytochemicals are released into a concentrated liquid, creating a potent medicinal tea or wash used to treat skin conditions and other inflammatory issues.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| decoctions | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pityrogramma calomelanos has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include dihydrochalcone.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dihydrochalcone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pityrogramma calomelanos has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pityrogramma calomelanos has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, anti-hypertensive, astringent.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anti-hypertensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |