Traditional Uses of Every Part of the Ophioglossum Genus (Adder's Tongue Fern)

1. RHIZOME (Underground Part)

O. reticulatum L. (Van palak / Brahmi Fern)

• A warm decoction of the rhizome is applied topically to treat boils (skin infections).
  • Source: PFAF Plant Database (Plants for a Future), citing Burkill (1985) [Ref. 299]; also confirmed in Ophioglossum reticulatum PFAF entry.

O. vulgatum L. (Common Adder's Tongue / European Adder's Tongue)

• The root and leaves together are documented as antiseptic, detergent, emetic, haemostatic, styptic, and vulnerary in European herbal tradition.
  • Source: Grieve, A Modern Herbal (Penguin, 1984); Usher, A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man (Constable, 1974), cited in Useful Temperate Plants database (temperate.theferns.info).
• Traditional European folk use of leaves and rhizomes as a poultice for wounds. This remedy was historically called the "Green Oil of Charity" - a famous English vulnerary ointment prepared from the whole plant, especially the rhizome, in oil.
  • Source: Wikipedia / Ophioglossum vulgatum; Kala et al. (2011); Nwosu (2002); Sarker and Hossain (2009), as cited in: Muriel Queiroz et al. (2020). "Phytochemicals from fern species: potential for medicine applications." Phytochemistry Reviews 19: 941-995. PMC7089528.

O. engelmanni (Limestone Adder's Tongue)

• Rhizome paste was used by regional Ayurvedic practitioners in Sri Lanka and southern India as a poultice for localized swelling.
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda wiki, citing oral tradition records; Engelmann botanical expedition notes (19th century).
• The rhizome contains active flavonoids and phenolic acids confirmed by phytochemical isolation.
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda.com article on Ophioglossum engelmanni.

2. LEAVES / FRONDS (Trophophore - the sterile leaf)

O. reticulatum L.

• Fresh fronds boiled with rice and taken orally on an empty stomach for 15-20 days as a traditional treatment for menstrual disorders (irregular menstruation).
  • Source: Srivastava A. et al. (2021). "Traditional pteridophytic herbal medicines and reproductive health disorders in women." The Journal of Phytopharmacology 10(6): 490-498. (phytopharmajournal.com/Vol10_Issue6_10.pdf)
• Fronds used in treatment of post-partum care / strengthening of women after delivery.
  • Source: Srivastava et al., J. Phytopharmacology 10(6), 2021 (same article).
• Fronds eaten as a nutritious vegetable or salad (young fronds blanched, sweet flavor). Note: if boiled too long they turn into slime and are unsuitable.
  • Source: PFAF Plant Database [Refs. 46, 299, 332]; Burkill (1985).
• Leaves boiled in oil are applied to wounds externally.
  • Source: PFAF Plant Database [Ref. 299].
• Leaf juice is drunk internally against spasms of the heart (cardiac spasms).
  • Source: PFAF Plant Database [Ref. 299]; Ophioglossum reticulatum PFAF entry.

O. vulgatum L.

• Leaves and rhizomes used as a poultice for wounds (the "Green Oil of Charity" ointment) - a vulnerary preparation for topical application.
  • Source: Wikipedia (Ophioglossum vulgatum); Grieve, A Modern Herbal (1984).
• Tea made from leaves used as a traditional European folk remedy for internal bleeding and vomiting.
  • Source: Wikipedia (Ophioglossum vulgatum).
• Aerial parts (galactoglycerolipids and flavonol derivatives isolated from aerial parts) promote in vitro keratinocyte scratch-wound healing, supporting the traditional vulnerary use.
  • Source: Clericuzio M. et al. (2012). "Flavonoid oligoglycosides from Ophioglossum vulgatum L. having wound healing properties." Planta Medica 78: 1639-1644. (Cited in PMC7089528 and PMC11705509).
• Used in folk medicine for dermatological, hemostatic, antiparasitic, and alimentary purposes (whole plant / aerial parts).
  • Source: Kala et al. (2011); Nwosu (2002); Sarker and Hossain (2009), as cited in Queiroz et al. (2020), PMC7089528.
• Anti-inflammatory use in Traditional Indian medicine.
  • Source: Majumdar M. et al. (2018). "A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments." Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. PMC5833325.

O. pendulum L. (Ribbon Fern / Hanging Adder's Tongue Fern)

• Infusion of leaves used as a cough remedy in Mindanao, Philippines.
  • Source: Stuartxchange Philippine Medicinal Plants (stuartxchange.org/RibbonFern), citing PROSEA Plant Resources of South-East Asia [Ref. 5].
• Young fronds eaten as a vegetable (edible use).
  • Source: Stuart Exchange [Ref. 8].
• Shredded young fronds mixed with coconut oil used as a hair ointment (hair health, growth promotion).
  • Source: Stuart Exchange [Ref. 8] (The DNA of Singapore).
• In India, fronds used in the form of a scalp ointment to improve hair growth.
  • Source: Stuart Exchange (Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary, C. P. Khare) [Ref. 2].
• In Malaysia, juice of leaves used by the Temuan tribe as shampoo to clean and treat hair.
  • Source: Hanum IF and Hamzah N (1999). "The Use of Medicinal Plant Species by the Temuan Tribe of Ayer Hitam Forest, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia." Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. 22(2): 85-94. [Ref. 4], cited in Stuart Exchange.
• In the Moluccas (Indonesia), leaves shredded in coconut oil and applied to the head for improvement of hair health.
  • Source: Stuart Exchange [Ref. 9] (Flora & Fauna Web).
• Used for indigestion in Moore, French Polynesia.
  • Source: Baltrushes N (2006). Medical Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity of the Ferns of Moorea, French Polynesia. [Ref. 1], cited in Stuart Exchange.

O. engelmanni

• Decoction of the fertile spike (sporophore) used in Appalachian mountain regions for relief from mild fever and muscle aches (warm-water extract steeped 20-30 minutes).
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda.com (Ophioglossum engelmanni), citing William Bartram 1794 manuscript and Appalachian records.
• Mild Ophioglossum engelmanni tea used for digestive comfort (small-scale Appalachian wellness clinics, 1970s records).
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda.com.

3. WHOLE PLANT / WHOLE FERN (Entire Plant Used)

O. reticulatum L.

• Juice of the whole plant used in treatment of uterine hemorrhage and leucorrhea (white vaginal discharge).
  • Source: Srivastava et al. (2021), J. Phytopharmacology 10(6). [Table 1]
• Whole plant juice given to women after delivery as a strength tonic (post-partum strengthening).
  • Source: Srivastava et al. (2021), J. Phytopharmacology 10(6). [Table 1]
• The whole fern is documented for use as an anti-cancer and antiviral agent (alongside O. gramineum).
  • Source: Singh (1999); Lee et al. (2003), as cited in Majumdar et al. (2018). PMC5833325.

O. vulgatum L.

• Whole plant used as an anti-inflammatory in Traditional Indian medicine.
  • Source: Majumdar et al. (2018). "A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments." PMC5833325.
• The aqueous extract of the whole plant counteracts bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) - supporting traditional antiparasitic/antiviral folk use.
  • Source: Herrmann et al. (2011), cited in Queiroz et al. (2020), PMC7089528.

O. gramineum

• Whole plant has documented antidiabetic activity (in vitro and traditional Indian medicine).
  • Source: Singh (1999); Chand Basha et al. (2013), cited in Majumdar et al. (2018), PMC5833325.

O. pedunculosum

• Ethanolic extracts of the whole plant have been studied for anti-HBV (Hepatitis B virus) activity - homoflavonoid glucosides (pedunculosumosides A-G) isolated from the whole plant.
  • Source: Wan CX et al. (2011). "Homoflavonoid glucosides from Ophioglossum pedunculosum and their anti-HBV activity." J. Nat. Prod. 74: 683-689. Cited in PMC7089528 and PMC11705509.

4. SPORES (Sporophore / Fertile Spike)

O. pendulum L.

• Spores administered to newborn babies to rid them of meconium (first feces of a newborn infant) - a traditional birth practice in the Philippines.
  • Source: Stuart Exchange (Stuartxchange.org/RibbonFern), citing PROSEA Plant Resources of South-East Asia [Ref. 5].

O. engelmanni

• Ground sporophore (fertile spike) mixed with other botanicals (e.g., Echinacea, Goldenseal) by Native American tribes for topical applications to soothe minor skin irritations.
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda.com (Ophioglossum engelmanni), citing 18th century colonial North American herbal records.
• Fertile spike described as "cooling and astringent" by physician William Bartram (1794 manuscript), consistent with its use for fever and skin conditions.
  • Source: Ask-Ayurveda.com.

5. AERIAL PARTS (Combined Sporophore + Trophophore)

O. vulgatum L.

• Aerial parts used in folk medicine for dermatological purposes (skin diseases), hemostasis (stopping bleeding), antiparasitic purposes, and alimentary (digestive/nutritional) uses.
  • Source: Kala et al. (2011); Nwosu (2002); Sarker and Hossain (2009), cited in Queiroz et al. (2020), PMC7089528.
• Galactoglycerolipids and flavonol derivatives from aerial parts scientifically shown to promote wound healing (keratinocyte scratch-wound healing in vitro), validating the historic "Green Oil of Charity."
  • Source: Clericuzio et al. (2012) and Clericuzio et al. (2014), cited in PMC7089528.

Summary Table

Key Articles Referenced

1. Srivastava A. et al. (2021). "Traditional pteridophytic herbal medicines and reproductive health disorders in women." The Journal of Phytopharmacology 10(6): 490-498. [phytopharmajournal.com]
2. Majumdar M. et al. / Phongamchit S. et al. (2018). "A review of the use of pteridophytes for treating human ailments." PMC5833325.
3. Queiroz M. et al. (2020). "Phytochemicals from fern species: potential for medicine applications." Phytochemistry Reviews 19: 941-995. PMC7089528.
4. Clericuzio M. et al. (2012). "Flavonoid oligoglycosides from Ophioglossum vulgatum L. having wound healing properties." Planta Medica 78: 1639-1644.
5. Wan CX et al. (2011). "Homoflavonoid glucosides from Ophioglossum pedunculosum and their anti-HBV activity." J. Nat. Prod. 74: 683-689.
6. Hanum IF and Hamzah N (1999). "The Use of Medicinal Plant Species by the Temuan Tribe of Ayer Hitam Forest, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia." Pertanika J. Trop. Agric. Sci. 22(2): 85-94.
7. Baltrushes N (2006). Medical Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity of the Ferns of Moorea, French Polynesia. Thesis.
8. Grieve M. (1984). A Modern Herbal. Penguin. (originally 1930s)
9. PFAF Plant Database (Plants For A Future). Ophioglossum reticulatum entry. pfaf.org [Refs. 46, 200, 299, 332].
10. Stuart Exchange (Stuartxchange.org). Ophioglossum pendulum (Ribbon Fern). Citing PROSEA [Ref. 5], Khare [Ref. 2], and DNA of Singapore [Ref. 8].
11. Zhu X. et al. (2025). "Anti-inflammatory properties of ophioglonin derived from Ophioglossum vulgatum L. via inactivating NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways." PMC11705509.