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Review
. 2023 Dec 20;13(1):18.
doi: 10.3390/plants13010018.

Health and Environmental Hazards of the Toxic Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken Fern)

Matěj Malík  1 , Otakar Jiří Mika  2   3 , Zdeňka Navrátilová  4 , Uday Kumar Killi  3 , Pavel Tlustoš  1 , Jiří Patočka  3   5
Affiliations
Review

Health and Environmental Hazards of the Toxic Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken Fern)

Matěj Malík et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

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. This study, conducted in the second half of 2023, aimed to assess the environmental and health hazards of P. aquilinum, primarily focusing on its carcinogenic compound, ptaquiloside. The literature was comprehensively reviewed using diverse databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Information was synthesized from original research articles, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and relevant animal studies. Animals grazing on bracken fern face annual production losses due to toxin exposure. The substantial impact on biodiversity, animal health, and human well-being arises from the presence of ptaquiloside and related compounds in milk, meat, and water, along with the increasing global prevalence of P. aquilinum and its swift colonization in acidic soil and fire-damaged areas. The objectives were to identify major bioactive compounds and explore their effects at molecular, cellular, pathological, and population levels. Various cooking techniques were considered to mitigate toxin exposure, although complete elimination remains unattainable. Therefore, the findings emphasize the need for cautious consumption. In conclusion, continued research is necessary to better understand and manage its environmental and health implications.

Keywords: Pteridium aquilinum; bioactive compounds; bracken fern; fiddleheads; health; ptaquiloside; thiaminase; weed.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bracken fern growing in the wild. Photos by Zdeňka Navrátilová.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The chemical structure of the cyanogenic compound prunasin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structures of illudane glycosides.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The scheme of ptaquiloside degradation reactions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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