Pteridophytes are a group of plants that reproduce via spores rather than seeds and include ferns, horsetails, and club mosses. However, recent scientific investigations have revealed that pteridophytes hold a significant place in traditional medicine systems and can provide a range of therapeutic benefits. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the medicinal potential of pteridophytes and identifying ethnomedicinal pteridophytes thriving in the Dehradun region and its surrounding areas. In addition to learning more about pteridophytes, we identified 28 plants that are traditionally used as medicines in the Dehradun region and its surrounding areas. We researched 28 medicinal plants that fall under 15 different families, representing a wide variety of species, all with special healing abilities. The Pteridaceae family, which also includes the two plants Pteris cretica and Aleuritopteris bicolor, and five species of Adiantum, is the most widespread and dominant one. The remaining 21 plants that are studied in the analyzed region belong to other families. These plants are categorized into Pteridaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Lygodiaceae, Polypodiaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Thelypteridaceae, Equisetaceae, Arecaceae, Hypodematiaceae, Aspleniaceae, Tectariaceae, Adiantaceae, Oleandraceae, and Lindsaeaceae. Every plant has economic worth in terms of nutritional, aesthetic, or medicinal value. Pteridophytes are rich in phytochemicals, such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and proteins. These plants exhibit a wide variety of healing methods that the native people used on their own survival, most notably antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Additionally, plants are used to treat lots of skin infections and respiratory conditions, including cuts, burns, and wounds. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the importance of preserving both the ecological integrity of the Dehradun region and the cultural heritage embedded in the traditional uses of these pteridophytes.

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1. Li RM. The treatment of jaundice with medicinal plants in indigenous communities of the Sub-Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(1):262–291.
2. Sharma N, Joshi SP. Comparative study of a fresh water swamp of Doon Valley. Taxon. 1965;2003(1):71.
3. Singh C, Chauhan N, Rani A, Kishore K, Singh K, Singh R. Ethnobotanical and pharmacological studies of pteridophytes (Ferns) from Mussoorie region, Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. Int J Bot Stud. 2021;6(6):694–702.
4. Singh C, Garkoti SC, Pande HC. Ecology of fern wealth (Pteridophyta) of Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, India. Ann Plant Sci. 2013;2:327–341.
5. Singh C, Kumar B, Rani A, Dhyani K, Singh R. Biodiversity and conservation: Ferns diversity in different forests of Dehradun district. Int J Pharm Res Technol. 2023;7(2):1–7. doi:10.31838/ijprt/07.02.01
6. Singh M, Chand V. Antibacterial potential of different extracts of Aleuritopteris bicolor in Doon Valley, Uttarakhand. IJCRT. 2020;8(12):2320–2882.
7. Chettri S. Nutrient and elemental composition of wild edible ferns of the Himalaya. Am Fern J. 2018;108(3):95–106. doi:10.1640/0002-8444-108.3.95
8. Srivastava K. Importance of ferns in human medicine. Ethnobot Leaflets. 2007;(1):26.
9. Starr K. Christella dentata (habit) [Image]. Wikimedia; 2002.
10. Sundue M. (2006). Tectaria coadunata [Online]. Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Available from: http://www.fernsoftheworld.com/2020/01/02/tectaria-coadunata/
11. Trail P, Danmalidoi Y, Bicksler A, Burnette R. Production of vegetable fern (Diplazium esculentum Reytz.) under varying levels of shade. 2021.
12. Upreti K, Jalal JS, Tewari LM, Joshi GC, Pangtey YPS, Tewari G. Ethnomedicinal uses of pteridophytes of Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. J Am Sci. 2009;5(4):167–170.
13. Wangchuk U. Arthromeris wallichiana [Online]. Bhutan Biodiversity Portal. 2017. Available from: https://biodiversity.bt/observation/show/49410
14. Yang L, Li Y, Wei Y, Chen Z, Zhang F. Pharmacognostical study of Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Northwest Pharm J. 2019;34(5):569–573.
15. Yonathan M, Asres K, Assefa A, Bucar F. In vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Cheilanthes farinosa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;108(3):462–470.
16. Yusuf M, Shrivastav A, Porwal M, Khan NA. A review on Equisetum ramosissimum. J Drug Deliv Ther. 2020;10(5):311–315.

Pteridophytes are a group of plants that reproduce via spores rather than seeds and include ferns, horsetails, and club mosses. However, recent scientific investigations have revealed that pteridophytes hold a significant place in traditional medicine systems and can provide a range of therapeutic benefits. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the medicinal potential of pteridophytes and identifying ethnomedicinal pteridophytes thriving in the Dehradun region and its surrounding areas. In addition to learning more about pteridophytes, we identified 28 plants that are traditionally used as medicines in the Dehradun region and its surrounding areas. We researched 28 medicinal plants that fall under 15 different families, representing a wide variety of species, all with special healing abilities. The Pteridaceae family, which also includes the two plants Pteris cretica and Aleuritopteris bicolor, and five species of Adiantum, is the most widespread and dominant one. The remaining 21 plants that are studied in the analyzed region belong to other families. These plants are categorized into Pteridaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Lygodiaceae, Polypodiaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Thelypteridaceae, Equisetaceae, Arecaceae, Hypodematiaceae, Aspleniaceae, Tectariaceae, Adiantaceae, Oleandraceae, and Lindsaeaceae. Every plant has economic worth in terms of nutritional, aesthetic, or medicinal value. Pteridophytes are rich in phytochemicals, such as tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, and proteins. These plants exhibit a wide variety of healing methods that the native people used on their own survival, most notably antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Additionally, plants are used to treat lots of skin infections and respiratory conditions, including cuts, burns, and wounds. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the importance of preserving both the ecological integrity of the Dehradun region and the cultural heritage embedded in the traditional uses of these pteridophytes.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Li RM. The treatment of jaundice with medicinal plants in indigenous communities of the Sub-Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(1):262–291.
2. Sharma N, Joshi SP. Comparative study of a fresh water swamp of Doon Valley. Taxon. 1965;2003(1):71.
3. Singh C, Chauhan N, Rani A, Kishore K, Singh K, Singh R. Ethnobotanical and pharmacological studies of pteridophytes (Ferns) from Mussoorie region, Dehradun district, Uttarakhand. Int J Bot Stud. 2021;6(6):694–702.
4. Singh C, Garkoti SC, Pande HC. Ecology of fern wealth (Pteridophyta) of Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, India. Ann Plant Sci. 2013;2:327–341.
5. Singh C, Kumar B, Rani A, Dhyani K, Singh R. Biodiversity and conservation: Ferns diversity in different forests of Dehradun district. Int J Pharm Res Technol. 2023;7(2):1–7. doi:10.31838/ijprt/07.02.01
6. Singh M, Chand V. Antibacterial potential of different extracts of Aleuritopteris bicolor in Doon Valley, Uttarakhand. IJCRT. 2020;8(12):2320–2882.
7. Chettri S. Nutrient and elemental composition of wild edible ferns of the Himalaya. Am Fern J. 2018;108(3):95–106. doi:10.1640/0002-8444-108.3.95
8. Srivastava K. Importance of ferns in human medicine. Ethnobot Leaflets. 2007;(1):26.
9. Starr K. Christella dentata (habit) [Image]. Wikimedia; 2002.
10. Sundue M. (2006). Tectaria coadunata [Online]. Ferns and Lycophytes of the World. Available from: http://www.fernsoftheworld.com/2020/01/02/tectaria-coadunata/
11. Trail P, Danmalidoi Y, Bicksler A, Burnette R. Production of vegetable fern (Diplazium esculentum Reytz.) under varying levels of shade. 2021.
12. Upreti K, Jalal JS, Tewari LM, Joshi GC, Pangtey YPS, Tewari G. Ethnomedicinal uses of pteridophytes of Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. J Am Sci. 2009;5(4):167–170.
13. Wangchuk U. Arthromeris wallichiana [Online]. Bhutan Biodiversity Portal. 2017. Available from: https://biodiversity.bt/observation/show/49410
14. Yang L, Li Y, Wei Y, Chen Z, Zhang F. Pharmacognostical study of Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Northwest Pharm J. 2019;34(5):569–573.
15. Yonathan M, Asres K, Assefa A, Bucar F. In vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Cheilanthes farinosa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;108(3):462–470.
16. Yusuf M, Shrivastav A, Porwal M, Khan NA. A review on Equisetum ramosissimum. J Drug Deliv Ther. 2020;10(5):311–315.