Pteridophytes are one of the ancient plant groups that have been utilized by humans in the ethnic and therapeutic practices of many cultures from ancient times. The present study was conducted to gather ecological, ethnomedicinal and phytocemical information on pteridophyte Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) K. Iwats. found in Birbhum, West Bengal, India. The phytochemical screening from ethanolic extract of the different parts, such as leaf, petiole, rhizome and root of this edible fern from three consecutive seasons showed the presence of critical bioactive compounds like alkaloids, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and tannins. It was also shown that the total phytochemical estimate of the edible pteridophyte from various parts, such as the leaf, petiole, rhizome, and root, produced significant results. This pteridophyte has several ethnobotanical uses, including ethnomedicinal.
Sukul et al. (Sun,) studied this question.