Fern acylphloroglucinols: Structure, location, and biological effects

Abstract

Acylphloroglucinols are derivatives of benzene-1,3,5-triol, a compound also known as phloroglucinol. In ferns, phloroglucinols are usually made of two or more rings linked together through methylene bridges. The occurrence of acylphloroglucinols in ferns has been associated with the presence of secreting glands located in their rhizomes. Several phloroglucinol derivatives from ferns display different biological activities including anthelmintic, molluscicidal, and antibacterial effects. This chapter covers in detail not only the distribution of acylphloroglucinols in ferns but also their location in the plant, detection and isolation procedures, structure, and biological activity.