Pharmacological Activity and Toxicity of Bracken Fern

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This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/plants13010018

Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) is ubiquitous and acts as a cosmopolitan weed in pastures and similar environments. Despite its historical uses, it presents risks due to toxicity.

ptaquiloside weed bracken fern fiddleheads bioactive compounds

1. Antimicrobial Potency: In Vitro Studies

Phenolic acids, known for their antimicrobial properties even at concentrations as low as 100 to 150 ppm w/v ^[1]^[2], are present in bracken fern sporophytes (0.25–0.75%, phenolic acids/g dry weight) and gametophytes (0.15–0.20%, phenolic acids/g dry weight) at sufficiently high levels to act as significant antimicrobial compounds. The concentrations of phenolic acids in P. aquilinum leaves vary seasonally, influenced by plant age and various environmental and biological factors. These phenolic acids differentially impede the growth of fern pathogens and other bacteria in vitro, persisting in plant tissues throughout most of the growing season and effectively inhibiting the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms ^[3].

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the n-hexane extract of leaves, determined via the tube dilution method, demonstrated inhibition at 300 to 350 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and at 350 mg/mL for Escherichia coli. In contrast, there was no inhibition of the ethanolic extract for any of the organisms. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the n-hexane extract for P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and E. aerogenes indicated susceptibility at 300 to 350 mg/mL ^[4].

The MIC test of the ethanolic and petroleum ether extract of P. aquilinum against bacterial pathogens (Bacillus subtilis and S. aureus) was observed as 1 mg/mL. For E. coli and Proteus vulgaris, it was found to be 0.8 mg/mL.

2. Antioxidant Properties: In Vitro Insights and Prospects for In Vivo Exploration

The antioxidant activity of P. aquilinum leaves was slightly lower when compared with ascorbic acid (% inhibition in mg/mL). The scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals were 84 and 73.3%, respectively, for P. aquilinum leaves, while for ascorbic acid, it was 88.2% and 83%, respectively ^[5]. In a comparison of extracts from selected ferns (Onoclea struthiopteris, Onoclea orientalis, Osmunda japonica, and P. aquilinum), all fern extracts exhibited antioxidant effects in vitro. Notably, the roots of O. japonica and the fronds of O. orientalis were the most efficient ^[6].

Utilizing a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), it was demonstrated that the purified polysaccharide obtained from P. aquilinum possessed strong reductive power (FRAP value: 827.6 μmol/L), comparable to that of vitamin C. Additionally, it exhibited moderate scavenging activities against DPPH radicals (83.1%) at an 800 μg/mL dose. These results suggest that the purified polysaccharide had a noticeable effect on scavenging free radicals, particularly at higher concentrations. However, its activity was not more potent than vitamin C at the same dose. The percentage inhibition of superoxide generation via 800 μg/mL doses of the crude polysaccharides, the purified polysaccharide, and vitamin C was found to be 42.2%, 60.5%, and 84.2%, respectively. The scavenging effects of the crude polysaccharides, the purified polysaccharide, and vitamin C on the self-oxidation of 1,2,3-phentriol concentration were dependently increasing. At 100 μg/mL doses, they were 23.3%, 52.4%, and 90.7%, respectively ^[7].

Similar results were also obtained by Zhao et al. ^[8] in their study when another new polysaccharide (named PAP-3) was derived from P. aquilinum. PAP-3 exhibited strong free-radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS radicals in vitro, albeit slightly lower than that of vitamin C. These studies collectively demonstrated the robust antioxidant capacity of bracken fern compounds in in vitro antioxidation tests. Future research endeavors should focus on investigating the antioxidant activity of this plant through in vivo experiments.

3. Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Potential: Insights into Cellular Responses and Therapeutic Prospects

Immunostimulation is considered a crucial defense mechanism against various diseases. The immunomodulatory effect of PAP-3 on RAW264.7 cells, a macrophage cell line derived from a male mouse tumor induced via the Abelson murine leukemia virus, was examined across a concentration range of 0 to 200 μg/mL. PAP-3 demonstrated the ability to induce RAW264.7 cell proliferation at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 200 μg/mL, with no detectable cytotoxic effects up to 200 μg/mL. Incubation with PAP-3 significantly increased nitric oxide (NO) production from RAW264.7 cells, reaching 17.31 μM at 25 μg/mL concentration, comparable to the positive control (lipopolysaccharide, 10.0 μg/mL) ^[8].

Immunomodulatory effects associated with prolonged bracken fern feeding and enzootic bovine hematuria (EBH) were assessed using various tests, including the tube agglutination test for Brucella abortus antibodies, dinitrochlorobenzene skin test, lymphocyte proliferation assay, histopathological examination of lymph nodes, and skin biopsies in cows. Cows subjected to prolonged bracken fern feeding and those affected by EBH exhibited a decrease in humoral and an increase in cell-mediated immune responses compared to controls ^[9].

Another study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of bracken fern through daily extract ingestion by murine hosts over 14 (or up to 30) days. In C57BL/6 mice administered the extract via gavage, histological analyses revealed a significant reduction in splenic white pulp area. Various immune response parameters/functions were assessed, demonstrating a reduction in delayed-type hypersensitivity and interferon-gamma production by natural killer cells during T helper 1 priming. The innate response, assessed via natural killer cell cytotoxic functionality, was also diminished. While bracken fern affected components of acquired and innate immune responses, not all responses were modified, as seen in the analyses of humoral response and macrophage activity. These results suggest the immunosuppressive effect of P. aquilinum in mice, potentially contributing to an increased risk of cancer formation in exposed hosts ^[10].

The study by Dion et al. ^[6] revealed decreased interleukin-1 beta (IL1-β) gene expression for P. aquilinum frond extracts. Indirect measurement of NO via inducible nitric oxide gene expression showed a 50% decrease with the extract of O. orientalis fronds at a low concentration (20 μg/mL) compared to P. aquilinum fronds (160 μg/mL) and leaves of O. japonica, with the latter showing a higher decrease at a high extract concentration (160 μg/mL).

Additionally, extracts from bracken fern have demonstrated the potential to inhibit the growth of specific cancer cells in in vitro studies ^[11]^[12]. Treatment of human cancer cell lines with bracken fern dichloromethane extracts induced DNA damage and apoptosis at high concentrations (200 μg/mL) and caused cell cycle arrest at milder concentrations (50 and 30 μg/mL), depending on the cell type and tumor origin ^[12]. Williams et al. ^[11] reported that ptaquiloside exhibited selective toxicity against cancer cells compared to noncancer retinal epithelial cells, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent.

These findings underscore the potential of P. aquilinum as a source of natural compounds with therapeutic value. However, it is crucial to note that bracken fern also contains several toxic compounds and bleeding factors, especially thiaminases and ptaquiloside, found in high concentrations in the plant’s young parts (young fronds) and rhizomes ^[13]^[14].

4. Ptaquiloside: Carcinogenic Properties and Metabolic Fate

The norsesquiterpene glycoside ptaquiloside has been extensively investigated for its potential carcinogenic properties ^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]. Ingesting large quantities or prolonged consumption of ptaquiloside can be toxic to humans, emphasizing the need for caution when considering the edibility of bracken fern. The prevalence of bracken fern in Japanese cuisine is posited as a potential explanation for the increased incidence of bladder, stomach, and esophageal cancers among young Japanese individuals ^[20]^[21]^[22].

Ptaquiloside is implicated as a major contributor to the observed toxicity in ruminant farm animals. Intravenous administration of ptaquiloside to sheep induces progressive retinal degeneration, highlighting its harmful effects ^[23]. Guinea pigs, unlike rats or mice, exhibit hemorrhagic cystitis and hematuria upon subcutaneous administration of ptaquiloside ^[24]. It has been suggested that ptaquiloside accounts for more than half of the mutagenic potency associated with bracken ^[15]^[16]^[19]. Although a comprehensive modern carcinogenicity bioassay of ptaquiloside is lacking, limited studies in rats have explored its carcinogenicity. Rats receiving an initial oral dose of 780 mg/kg bw followed by weekly doses of 100 to 200 mg/kg bw or twice-weekly doses of 100 to 150 mg/kg bw for 8½ weeks developed tumors of the mammary gland and ileum, along with other adverse effects ^[25]^[26]. In a separate study, rats fed a diet containing 0.027 to 0.08% ptaquiloside developed cancers of the ileum and/or bladder within 15 to 60 days ^[27]. While parenteral dosing showed no tumors in rats given weekly intravenous doses, adverse effects such as monocytosis and focal renal tubular necrosis were observed ^[28]. Oral dosing, although not resulting in tumors, led to adverse effects, including tubular necrosis, monocytosis, and elevated plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha ^[29].

The mutagenicity of ptaquiloside was tested under different pH conditions. It was found to be nonmutagenic in strains of Salmonella typhimurium at pH 7.4 without metabolic activation but exhibited mutagenicity at pH 8.5 after pre-incubation ^[30]^[31]. Moreover, ptaquiloside induced chromatid exchange-type aberrations in Chinese hamster lung cells at various pH values, with higher pH values showing greater genotoxic potency ^[32]^[33]. In vitro, ptaquiloside produced DNA adducts and induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in a rat hepatocyte culture at pH 7.2 ^[34]^[35]^[36]. Cumulatively, the available evidence suggests that ptaquiloside likely contributes to bracken’s carcinogenicity and toxicity, with a genotoxic mode of action being implicated.

Ptaquiloside undergoes diverse decomposition processes influenced by environmental conditions, particularly pH and temperature ^[37]^[38]. Degradation can occur in both acidic and alkaline environments, posing a heightened risk of leaching when soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral, clay content is high, and microbiological degradation is slow ^[39]^[40]. Notably, the occurrence of ptaquiloside-induced bovine esophageal and bladder tumors correlates with pH values of 8.1 to 8.2 (saliva) and 7.5 to 8.5 (urine) ^[41]^[42].

Under normal physiological conditions, enzymatic degradation of ptaquiloside occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the stomach and small intestine, catalyzed by glycosidase enzymes. The stomach’s low pH facilitates the hydrolysis of ptaquiloside, leading to the formation of an aglycon called ptaquilosine and a dienone intermediate known as ptaquilodienone (Figure 1) ^[43]^[44]^[45]. Subsequently, two possible paths emerge.

Figure 1. The scheme of ptaquiloside degradation reactions.

In one scenario, ptaquilodienone reacts with water to produce an aromatic compound, pterosin B, devoid of significant biological effects ^[32]. These pterosins enter the bloodstream and are transported to the liver, where a series of enzymatic reactions, involving glucosidases, cytochrome P450 enzymes, sulfotransferases, and glucuronosyltransferases, metabolize the breakdown products. This process enhances water solubility, facilitating excretion, typically through urine ^[16]^[46]^[47]^[48].

Alternatively, ptaquilodienone may covalently bind to DNA molecules ^[49]. This dienone primarily alkylates amino acids such as cysteine, glutathione, and methionine at their thiol groups. Additionally, minor alkylation occurs at the carboxylate groups, forming corresponding esters ^[32]^[50]^[51]. The dienone also reacts with DNA, targeting adenine (predominantly at N-3) and guanine (primarily at N-7) residues, resulting in the formation of DNA adducts. This alkylation induces spontaneous depurination and DNA cleavage at adenine base sites ^[32]^[52]^[53]. These alkylated DNA by-products play a crucial role in carcinogenesis, as they introduce mutations and aberrations, leading to the development of cancers. Importantly, if the ptaquiloside molecule degrades to pterosin B, these harmful consequences are averted ^[16]^[53]^[54].

5. Thiaminase, Caffeic Acid, and Cyanogenic Glycosides: Assessing Bracken Fern’s Metabolic Challenges in Animals

Thiaminases, enzymes with antithiamine properties, are implicated in the short- to medium-term symptoms of bracken fern poisoning in monogastric animals. Unlike ruminants that produce their own thiamine, monogastric animals rely on dietary sources, rendering them more susceptible to thiaminase impact from various origins, including bracken ^[55]. Thiamine (vitamin B₁) is sourced by humans from yeast, whole grains (e.g., brown rice, whole wheat), legumes (e.g., lentils, soybeans), nuts and seeds (e.g., sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts), and animal-derived options such as pork and organ meats (liver, kidney, and heart). Fortified foods, particularly cereals and bread, and thiamine-based supplements contribute to thiamine intake in case of dietary insufficiency ^[56]. Vitamin B₁ plays a crucial role in maintaining myelin in the peripheral nervous system and overall organism functioning. Its deficiency, leading to beriberi in humans, manifests as peripheral or central neuropathy with symptoms including poor health, weight loss, and loss of coordination, with reported cases suggestive of heart failure ^[57]^[58]^[59].

Monogastric animals acquire vitamin B₁ through forage diets, with common feed components such as cereal grains (e.g., corn, wheat), oilseed meals (e.g., soybean meal), and specific animal by-products serving as thiamine sources. Animal diets are meticulously formulated to meet thiamine requirements for optimal growth and health ^[60].

Thiaminase enzymes degrade thiamine into thiazole and pyrimidine. Thiamine deficiency restricts reactions dependent on thiamin diphosphate, leading to substrate accumulation (pyruvate, pentoses, etc.,) associated with these reactions ^[13]^[14]^[61]^[62]. While thiaminases are heat-stable, autoclaving effectively destroys them ^[62]. Within P. aquilinum, thiaminases contribute to thiamine deficiency, with the highest activity observed in rhizomes and very young fronds, the former having concentrations 10–30 times greater than mature fronds ^[63]^[64].

Rats fed on bracken displaying thiaminase activity developed nervous system lesions typical of antivitaminosis B₁, curable with thiamine therapy ^[65]. Similar effects were observed in other monogastric animals, such as horses and pigs ^[62]^[66]. A 52-week feeding study in rats aimed to explore bracken’s antithiamine activity and its potential link to carcinogenicity. Control groups showed no tumors, while all surviving rats in bracken-fed groups developed multiple intestinal tumors. Bladder tumors occurred in 11% of males and 7% of females in the bracken-alone group, increasing to 53% of males and 67% of females when thiamine was supplemented. Intriguingly, thiamine supplements did not reduce tumor incidence, indicating thiaminase might not be the primary cause of bracken’s carcinogenicity ^[64]^[67].

P. aquilinum collected in November in the Pretoria district, South Africa, exhibited mean thiaminase activities of 3.1 and 3.5 µg thiamine destroyed/g plant material/hour for types 1 and 2, respectively, with a thiamine content of 0.04 µg thiamine/g plant material ^[13]^[14]^[68]. No reports of thiamine deficiency in human populations consuming bracken have been found, potentially attributed to humans having more varied diets and consuming significantly less bracken than animals ^[55]^[69]. Another heat-stable antithiamine factor, potentially caffeic acid, has been linked to bracken-induced thiamine deficiency in horses ^[70]^[71]. Caffeic acid, a phenolic substance with antioxidant properties found in many plants ^[72], has shown diverse effects in animal studies, including stomach papillomas in rats and a reduction in colon tumor growth in the same rats ^[73].

Another potentially hazardous compound occasionally found in specific bracken fern varieties is the cyanogenic glycoside prunasin. While generally present in harmless quantities in bracken fronds, instances of sudden animal death due to suspected hydrogen cyanide (HCN) poisoning from young bracken fronds have been documented ^[71]^[74]. Cyanogenesis occurs in both gametophytic and sporophyte generations of ferns, with young fronds being more cyanogenic than older ones ^[75]^[76], a typical defense strategy against herbivores ^[77]. Cyanogenic glycosides, such as prunasin, become toxic through conversion into HCN by β-glycosidase enzymes released upon tissue damage. When bracken is crushed or chewed, this conversion occurs, leading to the release of the unstable α-cyanohydrin mandelonitrile, which undergoes mandelonitrile β-elimination catalyzed via oxynitrilase to produce HCN and benzaldehyde ^[78]^[79]. Notably, polymorphism exists in bracken, with some plants lacking either prunasin or the required enzymes, rendering them noncyanogenic ^[80]. No reports exist of cyanide poisoning in people consuming foods from animals grazing on bracken, indicating animals are more affected by direct prunasin and cyanide exposure.

6. Ptaquiloside Accumulation and Health Risks: Impact on Animals and the Food Chain

P. aquilinum is a widespread plant thriving in diverse environments and posing challenges for pasture control ^[81]. Documented cases of intoxication after bracken fern ingestion are prevalent in various animals, particularly ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and wild deer ^[82]. In cattle, ingestion leads to enzootic hematuria, characterized by bleeding into the lower urinary tract and the development of epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasms. Sheep, on the other hand, may experience acute hemorrhagic syndrome, bone marrow aplasia, retinal atrophy, and polioencephalomalacia ^[83]. While relatively poorly documented in monogastric species, horses, for instance, can suffer from poisoning when exposed to bracken fern through low-quality hay or grazing. This leads to a decrease in thiamine content and an increase in pyruvate and lactate levels in the blood ^[13]^[84].

Upon ingestion, ptaquiloside, a key compound in bracken fern, is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and intestines without significant metabolic alterations. Ptaquiloside has the potential to accumulate in various tissues, including the mammary glands, a phenomenon observed during lactation ^[85]. Since the mammary glands actively produce milk, compounds present in the bloodstream, including ptaquiloside, can contaminate the milk and meat of these animals ^[47]^[48]^[86]^[87]. The quantity of bracken fern consumed directly correlates with the potential for ptaquiloside accumulation in the animal’s tissues, milk, or meat. Animals engaging in prolonged grazing on P. aquilinum are prone to accumulating higher levels of ptaquiloside in their systems. Research indicates that ptaquiloside is excreted in milk at a concentration of 8.6 ± 1.2% of the ingested amount by the cow from the fern, and this excretion is linearly dependent on the dose. Ptaquiloside was detected in milk 38 h after the initial feeding of cows with this plant ^[87]. Milk from cows fed on bracken has been associated with various adverse effects. These include leukopenia in calves, bladder cancer in mice, and the development of intestinal, bladder, and kidney cancers in rats ^[25].

Estimates suggest that infants consuming milk from cows exposed to bracken could potentially receive up to 22.8 mg/person/day of ptaquiloside, with elderly individuals and toddlers having the highest per capita chronic milk intake. These estimations, ranging from 2.9 to 22.1 mg/person/day (0.047–0.36 mg/kg bw/day) for toddlers and 2.8 to 21.6 mg/person/day (0.19–1.49 mg/kg bw/day) for the elderly, consider the maximum intake from nontoxic doses of ptaquiloside in milk. However, the actual exposure may be higher when considering milk from poisoned cows or other sources such as drinking water and bracken-exposed animal-derived foods ^[88]^[89]^[90].

Various animal species and individuals metabolize and eliminate ptaquiloside at different rates, influencing susceptibility to its toxicity. Importantly, the consumption of milk or meat from animals exposed to bracken fern poses health risks to humans. Therefore, preventing animal exposure to P. aquilinum or its contaminated products is crucial to mitigate the potential transfer of ptaquiloside to the food chain ^[45]^[71]^[91].

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