Nutraceutical and Bioactive Significance of Ferns with Emphasis on the Medicinal Fern Diplazium

Being primitive vascular plants, pteridophytes (ferns) have wide geographic distribution in different climatic regimes by bridging the gap between lower and higher plants. Compared to the angiosperms, nutraceutical and bioactive potential of ferns attracted less attention. Many ferns are nutraceutically viable owing to their rich source of protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, and fatty acids. Besides bioherbicide potential, ferns are endowed with chemopreventive, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, antihyperglycemic, leishmanicidal, trypanocidal, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, and immunomodulatory metabolites. Ferns are also valuable source of low-cost proteins, starch, and components of cosmeceutical significance. The genus Diplazium has pantropical distribution consisting of versatile nutraceutical and bioactive compounds. Future research should intensify toward exploitation of ferns as nutraceutical, healthcare, and industrial products to open up new avenues for food and pharmaceutical industries.