Alsophila firma

Alsophila firma, commonly known as the maquique fern (Spanish: helecho maquique, Nahuatl languages: peshma), is a deciduous tree fern in the family Cyatheaceae endemic to Mexico, other countries of Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador.[3] In the cloud forests of Mexico, it is considered an emblematic species and serves as a host for native epiphytic plants. However, habitat destruction and overconsumption of the trunks for handicraft production have threatened populations in Mexico.[4] As a result, Alsophila firma is considered threatened in the state of Veracruz and has been given special protection per Mexican law.[5]

Alsophila firma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cyatheaceae
Genus: Alsophila
Species:
A. firma
Binomial name
Alsophila firma
(Baker) D.S.Conant[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Alsophila costalis Christ
  • Alsophila furcata Christ
  • Alsophila infesta var. vangeertii G.Schneid.
  • Alsophila tenerifrons Christ
  • Alsophila vangeertii Goebel
  • Cyathea arida Christ
  • Cyathea articulata Fée
  • Cyathea costalis Domin
  • Cyathea denudans Kunze
  • Cyathea firma Domin (nom. illeg.)
  • Cyathea firmula Domin
  • Cyathea gemmifera Christ
  • Cyathea mexicana Schltdl. & Cham.
  • Cyathea patellaris Christ
  • Cyathea tenerifrons Domin
  • Cyathea trejoi Christ
  • Hemitelia firma Baker
  • Nephelea mexicana (Schltdl. & Cham.) R.M.Tryon
  • Nephelea patellaris (Christ) R.M.Tryon
  • Nephelea tenerifrons (Christ) R.M.Tryon

Description

Like other species of Alsophila, Alsophila firma has scaled stems and stipes. Adult individuals grow up to 10.5 meters and are typically found at 750 and 2000 meters above sea level.[6]

Alsophila firma is the host species to a number of fungi including Bisporella pteridicola, Crocicreas quinqueseptatum, Dasyscyphella dryina, Hyaloscypha fuckelii, among others. The stems of Alsophila firma are to date the only known habitat of the fungal genus Arachnopeziza.[7]

Uses

In Mexican traditional medicine, a filtered infusion of the dried rhizome of Alsophila firma is used to control blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes in a fasting state. Until 2021, this claim of Alsophila firma's hypoglycemic effects were not formally studied. Research by an ethnopharmacology group at the National Autonomous University of Mexico showed both significant glycemic control among hyperglycemic rats who were given an aqueous extract and inhibition of glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase in in vitro assays.[8] Based on these results, the ability to regulate hyperglycemia is believed to be related to inhibiting hepatic glucose output while in a fasting state.[9]

References
  1. Conant, David S. (1983). "A Revision of the Genus Alsophila (Cyatheaceae) in the Americas". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 64 (3): 333–382. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.27408. ISSN 0004-2625. JSTOR 43782112.
  2. Alsophila firma (Baker) D.S.Conant Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 23 January 2023.
  3. "WFO Monographs Details - The William & Lynda Steere Herbarium". sweetgum.nybg.org. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  4. "Helecho maquique (Alsophila firma)". enciclovida.mx. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  5. Lara-Pérez, Luis A.; Noa-Carrazana, Juan C.; Hernández-González, Sergio; Alarcón-Gutiérrez, Enrique; Sánchez-Velásquez, Lázaro R.; Zulueta-Rodríguez, Ramón; Lara-Capistrán, Liliana; Andrade-Torres, Antonio (2014-03-01). "Diversity and colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the tree fern Alsophila firma in rainy and dry season". Symbiosis. 62 (3): 143–150. doi:10.1007/s13199-014-0279-x. ISSN 1878-7665. S2CID 11023186.
  6. Eleutério, Ana Alice; Pérez-Salicrup, Diego (October 2009). "Transplanting Tree Ferns to Promote Their Conservation in Mexico". American Fern Journal. 99 (4): 279–291. doi:10.1640/0002-8444-99.4.279. ISSN 0002-8444. S2CID 85760774.
  7. Medel-Ortiz, Rosario; Baeza, Yajaira; Lorea-Hernández, Francisco G. (2020-01-13). "Pteridicolous ascomycetes from a cloud forest in eastern Mexico". Mycotaxon. 134 (4): 681–705. doi:10.5248/134.681. ISSN 0093-4666. S2CID 213871098.
  8. Andrade-Cetto, Adolfo; Espinoza-Hernández, Fernanda; Mata-Torres, Gerardo; Escandón-Rivera, Sonia (October 2021). "Hypoglycemic Effect of Two Mexican Medicinal Plants". Plants. 10 (10): 2060. doi:10.3390/plants10102060. ISSN 2223-7747. PMC 8539009. PMID 34685869.
  9. Dimitriadis, George D.; Maratou, Eirini; Kountouri, Aikaterini; Board, Mary; Lambadiari, Vaia (2021-01-06). "Regulation of Postabsorptive and Postprandial Glucose Metabolism by Insulin-Dependent and Insulin-Independent Mechanisms: An Integrative Approach". Nutrients. 13 (1): 159. doi:10.3390/nu13010159. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 7825450. PMID 33419065.
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