An Efficient Method For The Isolation Of Toxins From Pteridium Aquilinum And Evaluation Of Ptaquiloside Against Cancer And Non-Cancer Cells (#)

The common fern, bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum ), is well known for its toxic effects on livestock due principally to the carcinogenic constituent ptaquiloside ( 1 ), although other toxins are present including the cyanogenic glycoside, prunasin ( 2 ). Here, we report an improved and relatively "green" process for the isolation of 1 and 2 from fresh bracken fronds and the evaluation of 1 for cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines. The results indicate that 1 displays selective toxicity against cancer cells relative to noncancer retinal epithelial cells, and the improved method for the isolation of 1 is expected to facilitate further exploration of its pharmacological properties.