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Phlebodium aureum

Phlebodium aureum is a tropical fern, also known as Polypodium leucotomos, whose extract is rich in plant antioxidants that help cells cope with oxidative stress. Most people look at it for dementia, but the evidence is limited: one small trial in 45 people found that blood flow in the brain went up. That is a single pilot study, so it says little about memory or thinking, and it can't show lasting benefit.

Sources: PMID 11196347

Best evidence
Grade C
Conditions studied
7
Outcomes
9
Graded outcomes
0030

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

7 conditions

Skin Health

Skin Health: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Polymorphic Light Eruptions

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect3 studies25 people

Studies that measured polymorphic light eruptions

UV Skin Damage

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect1 study9 people

Studies that measured uv skin damage

Dementia

Dementia: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Cerebral Blood Flow

Small Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Small effect1 study45 people

Studies that measured cerebral blood flow

Cognitive DeclineImproves (the measure goes down)45 people

Photodermatoses

  • Polymorphic Light Eruptions: improves
Photodermatoses: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Polymorphic Light EruptionsImproves (the measure goes up)3 studies57 people

Studies that measured polymorphic light eruptions

Polymorphous Light Eruption

  • Polymorphic Light Eruptions: improves
Polymorphous Light Eruption: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Polymorphic Light EruptionsImproves (the measure goes up)3 studies30 people

Studies that measured polymorphic light eruptions

Psoriasis

  • Psoriasis Symptoms: improves
Psoriasis: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Psoriasis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study63 people

Studies that measured psoriasis symptoms

Vitiligo

  • Vitiligo Symptoms: improves
Vitiligo: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Vitiligo SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)1 study50 people

Studies that measured vitiligo symptoms

Immune Health

  • Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk: changes; see studies
Immune Health: outcomes studied for Phlebodium aureum
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection RiskChanges; see studies116 people

Key findings

  • Polymorphic Light EruptionsSkin HealthImproves (the measure goes up)
  • UV Skin DamageSkin HealthImproves (the measure goes down)
  • Cerebral Blood FlowDementiaImproves (the measure goes up)

Shop Phlebodium aureum

Third-party tested Phlebodium aureum products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade C

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Studies cited

7 studies from PubMed

  1. Oral polypodium leucotomos extract photoprotective activity in 57 patients with idiopathic photodermatosesG Ital Dermatol Venereol · PMID 21505393
  2. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study with anapsos in senile dementia: effects on cognition, brain bioelectrical activity and cerebral hemodynamicsMethods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol · PMID 11196347
  3. Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral Polypodium leucotomos extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled studyJ Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · PMID 17659004
  4. Photoprotective activity of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in 25 patients with idiopathic photodermatosesPhotodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed · PMID 17254039
  5. Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skinJ Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 15583582
  6. A new agent (hydrophilic fraction of polypodium leucotomos) for management of psoriasisInt J Dermatol · PMID 4609374
  7. Oral administration of a hydrophilic extract of Polypodium leucotomos for the prevention of polymorphic light eruptionJ Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 21696853