Phytochemical investigation of Pteris fauriei Hieron

Pteris fauriei Hieron., a terrestrial fern species belonging to the Pteridaceae family, is typically found in shaded understories of forests at elevations ranging from 300 to 800 m. This species preferentially colonizes acidic soils, particularly in moist environments adjacent to drainage ditches or other similar habitats. The phytochemical investigation of P. fauriei collected from Guizhou province was carried out and seven secondary metabolites were identified. They were characterized as: ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-O-β-D-glucoside (1), 16β-hydroxy-15-oxo-ent-kaur-19-oly-glucoside (2), 11β-hydroxy-15-oxo-ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (3), ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-19-oic acid (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (5), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (6), β-sitosterol (7). The structures of the obtained monomeric compounds were established based on their physicochemical properties, analysis of their NMR data and by comparing their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. Notably, compounds (1–5) were firstly isolated from this species and represented novel chemical records for P. fauriei, expanding the documented phytochemical profile of this species and offering a scientific foundation for the development and utilization of P. fauriei. The chemotaxonomic implications of these findings are discussed, particularly regarding the biosynthetic relationship between ent-kaurane diterpenoids and their ecological roles in Pteridaceae.