Ostrich Fern

Scientific Name(s): Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod.
Common Name(s): Fiddlehead fern, Ostrich fern, Shuttlecock fern, Wood fern

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 22, 2022.

Clinical Overview

Use

Studies regarding the therapeutic applications of ostrich fern are limited. A small number of animal and in vitro studies have examined the fern's potential as an antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agent.

Dosing

No clinical evidence exists to support a specific dosage of ostrich fern.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Adverse effects caused by ingestion of undercooked ostrich fern fiddleheads have included nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping.

Toxicology

No data.

Scientific Family

• Onocleaceae (formerly Dryopteridaceae)

Botany

The ostrich fern is a common fern that grows in the north eastern United States and throughout Canada. The fern's characteristic long, green, feathery fronds lose their leaflets in the fall, leaving a dormant winter plant. Ostrich ferns grow up to 2 m in height and spread in moist conditions via underground rhizomes. Synonyms for the species include Matteuccia pensylvanica, Pteretis nodulosa, Pteretis pensylvanica, and Onoclea struthiopteris.USDA 2016, Wagstaff 2008

History

Fiddleheads (the young shoot tops) of the ostrich fern are a seasonal delicacy, harvested commercially throughout the north eastern United States and coastal Canadian provinces. Historically, this spring vegetable became a regular part of the diet of Canadian settlers by the early 1700s.von Aderkas 1984 Both the fronds and shoot tops of the ostrich fern are widely eaten in Japan, and they are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.Li 2015, Miyazawa 2007 Fiddleheads are available canned, frozen, or fresh. Limited screening studies have been conducted to identify potential therapeutic applications.

Chemistry

Chromatographic studies have analyzed the constituents of ostrich fern,Li 2013, Zhang 2008 which include xanthophyll pigments, essential fatty acids (including linolenic, arachidonic, and eicosapentaenoic acids),de Long 2011 flavones (demethoxymatteucinol, matteucinol, matteuorien), and stilbenes (pinosylvin, pinosylvin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 5-beta-D-glucosyloxy-3-hydroxyl-trans-stilbene-2-carboxylic acid).Li 2013, Li 2015 The antioxidant compounds chlorogenic acid and caffeoylhomoserine have also been described.Miyazawa 2007

An essential oil of ostrich fern has been described as containing at least 100 compounds, notably (E)-phytol, nonanal, and decanal as main compounds, as well as other aromatic aldehyde compounds.Miyazawa 2007 Ostrich fern has been reported to accumulate some heavy metals;Burns 1988 however, no evidence of toxicity was found in an evaluation of a limited number of cases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC 1994

Uses and Pharmacology

Antimicrobial effect

Animal data

No animal data exist regarding the use of ostrich fern for antimicrobial effects.

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