848. Aspidium

Nomenclature

Male fern; male shield-fern; filix mas (B.P.).

Description and references

Rhizome and stipes of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott., Polypodiaceae. Habit. North America, Northern Asia, Europe, Northern Africa. Constit. Filicic and flavaspidic acids, volatile oil, asbaspidin, filicin, filmaron, filix red, resin. It yields not less than 6.5% oleoresin (U.S.P.).

Derivative

Oleoresin of Aspidium.

Description and references

Oleoresin of male fern. An ether extract of male fern containing not less than 24% crude filicin.

Properties

Dark green, thick liq, usually depositing a granular, cryst substance. Bitter, unpleasant taste. d not less than 1.0. Insoluble in water. Partly sol in alcohol or chloroform. Almost completely sol in ether; not less than 85% sol in petr ether. Shake well before dispensing.

Therapeutic Category

Anthelmintic (Cestodes).

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Anthelmintic (Cestodes).