• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7505-7513
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• 2014

Several toxic substances have been detected in plants which are responsible for animal and human diseases. Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is one example, widely distributed in many parts of the world. It is known to cause cancer in humans and other animals. In fact, man can be directly or indirectly exposed to the danger by consuming fern, contaminated water, milk, meat, and spore inhalation. Experimental studies have shown an association between bracken exposure and gastric cancer, and research has shown genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in vitro. This paper describes and reviews toxic, carcinogenic, genotoxic/cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory effects of bracken and included possible toxic agents. The chemistry of Ptaquiloside (PT) reactions is emphasized, along with bracken problems in livestock, possible pathways of exposure in man, and control for human health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.217-221
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• 2017

The ptaquiloside is a carcinogenic compound from bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum L). This study was to evaluate the content of ptaquiloside in bracken fern by various processing methods. The processing methods were heated and immersed time, water exchange number, and so on. Akali hydrolysis and solvent fractionation of ptaquiloside in bracken fern leads to the non-toxic and chemically stable pterosin B. The contents of pterosin B was analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS on mobile phase 3 mM ammonium acetate and methanol. The contents of total pterosin B in non-processing bracken fern in water extraction was 81.0 mg/kg and toxic ptaquiloside of them was 46.4 mg/kg. The heating time of 5 minutes removed 60% about the contents of pterosin B in the bracken fern, and two-thirds of them were already non-toxic pterosin B, namely were not transfered from ptaquiloside. Additional immersed time (12h), the pterosin B in bracken fern was 10 mg/kg, it was removed 87.6% and once every hour, water exchange times were removed 99.5% in comparison with them of untreated bracken fern and two-thirds of them were non-toxic pterosin B. To remove of ptaquiloside in bracken fern, heat, immersion, and water exchange times shall be carried out simultaneously.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 1972

In order to investigate the effects of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) on animals, a total of 105 mice given a ration containing different percentage of bracken fern were studied pathologically during the experimental period of 90 days. The results obtained were as follow: 1. Mice in the group, given a ration containing 15% of bracken fern, showed 85% of death rate in 90 days, and mice in the group, given a ration containing 25% of it, showed 100% in 30 days 2. The experimental mice showed decreased myeloid cells and significant reduction in erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. 3. Severe congestion and hemorrhages were observed in lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, stomach, intestine, brain, adrenal and testis from the ones that died during the experimental period, but the necropsies of the latter period indicated mild chanties comparatively. 4. Mice in the group, given a ration containing 15% blacken fern showed a decreasing tendency in body weight.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6047-6053
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• 2012

Bracken fern [Pteridium aquilinem (L.) kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae)] is one of the most common species on the planet. It has been consumed by humans and animals for centuries. Use by some human groups is because they believe bracken fern is good for health as plant medicine. However, it is also one of the few known plants that can cause tumors in farm animals. Many interested groups have focused their attention on bracken fern because of these interesting features. In order to evaluate the biological effects of exposure to this plant in cellular level, human cancer cell lines were treated with the fern dichloromethane extracts and the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects were studied. Anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects were evaluated by cell count, MTT assay and flow cytometry methods with three different cancer cell lines, TCC, NTERA2, and MCF-7, and two normal cells, HDF1 and HFF3. Pro-apoptotic effects of the extracts were determined by DAPI staining and comet assay, on TCC cancer cells compared to the normal control cell lines. Cellular morphology was examined by light microscopy. Our present study showed that the extract caused DNA damage and apoptosis at high concentrations ($200{\mu}g/mL$) and also it may induce cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase) at mild concentrations (50 and $30{\mu}g/mL$) depending on the cell type and tumor origin. These results indicate that bracken fern extract is a potent source of anticancer compounds that could be utilized pharmaceutically.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.11-11
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• 2021

Ferns have been consumed as food in many countries for centuries. As rich sources of protein, fiber, minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, and fatty acids, ferns provide important nutrients to humans. Eastern bracken (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (Desv.) Underw. ex A. Heller) is the most popular edible fern in South Korea where, additionally, it has long been used as an edible wild leaf vegetable. Recently, the production of eastern brackens in South Korea (2018) has reached 14,032 tons, for an annual revenue of 83.5 billion won, and even more eastern brackens are marketed if imports are taken into account as well. Most of the common ferns can be propagated using spores. However, fern farmers cultivate seedlings through traditional propagation methods, such as root pruning or rhizome division. These propagation methods exhibit limitations in forming roots and growing-points and are labor intensive. Quality seedlings of eastern bracken can be obtained through spore propagation, but the spores are fine and difficult to handle in the field. In addition, it would require appropriate environmental control. The production of synthetic seeds using encapsulation technology is easy to establish and it can be used to achieve high productivity at low cost. Synthetic seeds contain explants embedded into a seed foam, and they overcome the limitations of micropropagation and offer the possibility of using plug seedlings. Synthetic seed matrix, such as sodium alginate, has the advantages of low cost, low toxicity, and gel stability. The present study aimed to develop and produce synthetic seeds for the commercial exploitation of eastern bracken. Furthermore, we verified spore germination and the extent of gametophyte and sporophyte development achieved with our new synthetic seeds, whose production was intended to solve current problems with the handling, storage, and transportation of eastern bracken.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 1989

The results of toxicity test using mice and rats for ethanol extract of Bracken Fern collected in Kwang Ju area were shown as follows ; Up to the dose of 10g per kg of mice administered intraperitoneally there was no lethal toxicity so that it was impossible to calculate the median lethal dose $(LD_{50})$. For the first 7 days experiment all rats administered frond extract grouping in 40mg, 400mg, and 1200mg per kg of rat as the daily oral doses did not show any characterized sign in the weight gain rate, anatomical findings, and biochemical studies. For 3 weeks following the first week the weight gain rates of all test group were reduced to $4.2{\sim}7%$ below the weight gain rate of control. In this period serum GPT, GOT, and Alkaline phosphatase value were increased significantly indicating the symptoms of Bracken Fern poisonings. The pathological findings of all test groups for 28 days showed acute and chronic intestinal lesion and liver damage with steatosis especially in 1200g/kg rat groups. In this experiment the Bracken poisonings appeared slowly in rats of 400mg/kg and 1200mg/kg for two weeks and in rats of 40mg/kg for 3 weeks, showing the symptoms of lowering of weight gain rate, subacute hepatitis, hepatic steatosis and enteritis in 28 days experiment.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 1985

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary fiber sources and levels on serum lipids in rats fed a hypercholesterol diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 52.7 ${\pm}$ 7.27g were devided into sevel groups by completely randomized block design and fed various dietary fibers which were prepared from Rice bran, Siraegi (The dried green parts of a radish) and Bracken Fern at a level of 5% and 10% respectively. The results obtained in this study are summarized as follows: 1. Body weight gains were not significantly different among the groups and food intake was significantly higher in rats fed a diet of Siraegi 10% than those fed the control diet. 2. Fecal wet weights were significantly increased in all experimental groups. 3. Levels of serum total cholesterol in all experimental groups were significantly lower than that of the control group except the level in the R 10(Rice bran 10%) group. 4. Free Cholesterol levels in the serum were increased in all experimental groups, especially the levels in the R 10 (Rice bran 10%) and S 10 (Siraegi 10%) groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. 5. Ester Cholesterol levels in the serum were significantly lower in rats fed the experimental diets than those fed the control diet. 6. There was a tendency of higher serum HDL-Cholesterol levels in R5 (Rice bran 5%), R10 (Rice bran 10%) and B5(Bracken 5%) groups compared to the control group however no significant differences were found between the control group and all the experimental groups except in the case of the S5 (Siraegi 5%) group. 7. LDL, VLDL-Cholesterol levels in the serum sere significantly reduced in the S5 (Siraegi 5%), B5 (Bracken 5%) and B10 (Bracken 10%) groups. 8. The HDL-C./Total-C. Ratio was increased in all experimental group especially the Ratios in the S5 and B5 groups were significantly higher than that of the control group.