Pteridium aquilinum in human feeding: a review

Abstract

Pteridium aquilinum or bracken fern, as it is popularly known, is present in most extensive and semi-extensive farms of the world. Its presence is related to acute intoxication called enzootic hematuria, caused after ingestion of large quantities in a short time. It is also related to the upper digestive tract cancer when ingested continuously over long periods. Changes by chronic intake are linked to the most important toxic principle of Pteridium, the ptaquilosides, carcinogen agents distributed throughout plant structure. It acts deleteriously when consumed both fresh and dry. His shoots and rhizomes contain the highest toxic concentrations and it is much wanted for culinary recipes, particularly in Japan where it is common to find canned shoots. Studies have shown that this metabolite is released into the cow’s milk that often graze on land with the presence of the fern. It is known that the release in the milk starts after 38 hours of the consumption of the fern and ends only after two days without eating it. Thus, it can be considered an agent of importance for human and veterinary public health. The amount of plant or milk intake is crucial to establish tumor development in the short or long-term upper digestive tract, especially esophagus and stomach. Even after the pasteurization process, there is effective volume of ptaquilosides to cause damage. This fact is due to the ability of the metabolite to permanently alter genes linked to apoptosis and suppression of tumors. Keywords: Ruminants, public health, bracken fern, poisoning.