El Tlacuache Núm. 251 (2007). 251 Año 7 (2007) marzo. El Tlacuache

Miguel Ángel Martínez Alfaro: Un etnobotánico comprometido por Eduardo Corona-M. - Al gran maestro Miguel Ángel Martínez Alfaro por Macrina Fuentes Mata. - Miguel Ángel Martínez Alfaro: profesor, amigo y colega por Margarita Avilés. - Miguel Ángel Martínez Alfaro por *Arturo Argueta Villamar. - El Maestro Miguel Angel Martínez Alfaro por *Paul Hersch Martínez. - Miguel Ángel Martínez Alfaro(1942-2007) Semblanza de su labor académica y en la formación de profesionales de la etnobotánica por *Francisco A. Basurto Peña

Phytochemicals from fern species: potential for medicine applications

Ferns are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Historically they have been used in many ways by humans, including as ornamental plants, domestic utensils, foods, and in handicrafts. In addition, they have found uses as medicinal herbs. Ferns produce a wide array of secondary metabolites endowed with different bioactivities that could potentially be useful in the treatment of many diseases. However, there is currently relatively little information in the literature on the phytochemicals present in ferns and their pharmacological applications, and the most recent review of the literature on the occurrence, chemotaxonomy and physiological activity of fern secondary metabolites was published over 20 years ago, by Soeder (Bot Rev 51:442\u2013536, 1985). Here, we provide an updated review of this field, covering recent findings concerning the bioactive phytochemicals and pharmacology of fern species