Adiantum capillus-veneris

Adiantum capillus-veneris (maidenhair fern) is a medicinal herb rather than a primary food source; nutritional macronutrient data (carbohydrates, fats, protein) is not well-characterized in standardized databases. Bioactive compounds are the primary documented constituents: Flavonoids including rutin, isoquercitrin, kaempferol-3-glucoside, and astragalin (reported at approximately 1.2–3.8 mg/g dry weight in aerial parts); phenolic acids including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid (combined phenolic content approximately 15–45 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry extract depending on solvent and plant part); triterpenoids including fernene, diploptene, and adiantone; tannins (hydrolyzable and condensed forms, approximately 2–6% dry weight); mucilaginous polysaccharides contributing to demulcent properties; trace minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron documented in ash analysis though precise concentrations vary by growing region; vitamin C has been reported in small amounts in fresh frond tissue (approximate range 5–12 mg/100g fresh weight, though this degrades significantly with drying or processing). Bioavailability note: flavonoid glycosides require intestinal hydrolysis for absorption; polyphenol bioavailability is moderate and matrix-dependent. Most nutritional characterization is derived from phytochemical screening studies rather than standardized nutritional analysis.