Page 166 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

RHIZOMA FILICIS

Male fern, Rhizoma Filicis masis, Filix mas; Aspidium.

Male fern is the carefully dried rhizome and frond bases of Dryopteris Filix-
mas (Linne) Schott. (Fam. Polypodiaceae), collected late in autumn, and
divested of the roots and all dead portions.

Male Fern contains not more than 2 %. of foreign organic matter and yields
not less than 1.5 % of filicin.

Dryopteris filix mas is a fern which is abundant in Britain and Europe. Much
is imported from Germany and from India. The plant has a stout oblique rhizome
bearing a crown of about 8 to 10 erect fronds each is about 1 meter long, the frond
bears about 40 to 50 pairs of pinnae, each about 15 cm, long and having 2-3 pairs
of pinnules which are oblong and serrated towards the blunt tips.
The rhizomes are dug in autumn and after washing, the wiry roots, dead parts
and the frond except their bases are cut away. The trimmed rhizomes are dried at a
gentle heat. Large rhizomes are sometimes halved longitudinally to facilitate
drying.

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