Phytochemical Investigation of the Fern Asplenium ceterach (Aspleniaceae)

The fern Asplenium ceterach L. (syn. Ceterach officinarum Willd.) is used in local traditional medicine against kidney stones, gallstones, to facilitate diuresis and to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. The aim of this study was first to investigate the chemical composition of this fern and then to study the chemical profile of the herbal preparations used in local medicine due to its diuretic properties. In total, nine secondary metabolites from the methanol extract of the aerial parts have been isolated; three flavonoids, namely kaempherol-3- O- β-D-gentiobioside (1), quercetin-3- O- β-D-glucuronide (2), quercetin-3- O- β-D-gentiobioside (3), three phenolic acids, i.e. caffeic acid (4), chlorogenic acid (5) and p-coumaroyl-4- O- β-D-glucoside (6), as well as three phenols, 4-vinyl-phenol-1- O- β-D-glucopyranoside (7), 3-(1- O- β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionic acid (8), and 4- β- O-D-glucosyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (9). Moreover, the cyclohexane residue has been submitted to GC-MS and NMR analyses and revealed the presence of ethyl esters of palmitic, linoleic and α-linolenic acids. Finally, based on NMR, TLC and HPLC analyses, it was evident that the chemical fingerprints of all herbal preparations were quite similar, with chlorogenic acid being the main compound and caffeic acid present only in traces.