Maidenhair is a plant that grows to about 35 cm in height and is native to Europe (18). Traditionally, it is used for cough, wound healing, dysmenorrhea, and menorrhagia, and for general scalp, gastrointestinal, liver, and kidney health (106345).

LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts found in alcoholic drinks. Maidenhair fern is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a flavoring agent in alcoholic drinks (97997).

There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of maidenhair fern when used in larger amounts as medicine.

PREGNANCY: UNSAFE ...when used orally. Maidenhair fern is contraindicated in pregnancy (12,18).

LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

•  Gastrointestinal

  Orally, large doses of maidenhair fern have been reported to cause emesis (12).

• Adult

  Oral:

  Research is limited; typical dosing is unavailable.

• Standardization & Formulation

  There is insufficient reliable information available about the standardization of maidenhair fern.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the presentation or treatment of overdose with maidenhair fern.

There is insufficient reliable information available about the pharmacokinetics of maidenhair fern.

General: The applicable parts of maidenhair fern are the dried fronds, herb, and root. Maidenhair fern contains flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, triterpenoids, and carotenoids (106345).

Anti-inflammatory effects: An ethanolic extract of maidenhair fern fronds suppressed release of prostaglandin E2, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor from monocytes and macrophages in vitro, by inhibiting activation of nuclear factor kappa-B. The extract also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in mice (99707). In an animal model of ulcerative colitis, maidenhair fern extract demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (106345).