Polypodium Leucotomos: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Polypodium leucotomos is a tropical fern from Central and South America. It's been used in traditional medicines.

Polypodium leucotomos contains chemicals that might have antioxidant effects. The antioxidants in Polypodium leucotomos might prevent damage caused by excessive sun exposure.

People use Polypodium leucotomos for sunburn, eczema, dark skin patches on the face, cancer, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Polypodium Leucotomos overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Polypodium leucotomos extract is possibly safe when used in doses of 360-480 mg daily for up to 6 months. It seems to be well-tolerated.

When applied to the skin: Polypodium leucotomos extract is possibly safe when used short-term.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Polypodium leucotomos is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Polypodium leucotomos extract is possibly safe when taken by mouth at varying doses by age for up to 6 months.

Interactions

Minor Interaction

Be watchful with this combination

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with Polypodium Leucotomos
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Polypodium leucotomos might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Dosing

Polypodium leucotomos has most often been used by adults in doses of 360-960 mg by mouth daily for 2-26 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

REFERENCES:

Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, et al. Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;51:910-8.

Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, et al. Orally administered Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases psoralen-UVA-induced phototoxicity, pigmentation, and damage of human skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 2004;50:41-9.

Mohammad A. Vitiligo repigmentation with Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos). Int J Dermatol 1989;28:479.

Gonzalez S, Alcaraz MV, Cuevas J, et al. An extract of the fern Polypodium leucotomos (Difur) modulates Th1/Th2 cytokines balance in vitro and appears to exhibit anti-angiogenic activities in vivo: pathogenic relationships and therapeutic implications. Anticancer Res 2000;20:1567-75.

Sempere JM, Rodrigo C, Campos A, et al. Effect of Anapsos (Polypodium leucotomos extract) on in vitro production of cytokines. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1997;43:85-9.

Gonzalez S, Pathak MA, Cuevas J, et al. Topical or oral administration with an extract of Polypodium leucotomos prevents acute sunburn and psoralen-induced phototoxic reactions as well as depletion of Langerhans cells in human skin. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 1997;13:50-60.

Bernd A, Ramirez-Bosca A, Huber H, et al. In vitro studies on the immunomodulating effects of polypodium leucotomos extract on human leukocyte fractions. Arzneimittelforschung 1995;45:901-4.

Gonzalez S, Pathak MA. Inhibition of ultraviolet-induced formation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, erythema and skin photosensitization by polypodium leucotomos. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 1996;12:45-56.

Padilla HC, Lainez H, Pacheco JA. A new agent (hydrophilic fraction of polypodium leucotomos) for management of psoriasis. Int J Dermatol 1974;13:276-82.

Garcia F, Pivel JP, Guerrero A, et al. Phenolic components and antioxidant activity of Fernblock, an aqueous extract of the aerial parts of the fern Polypodium leucotomos. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2006;28:157-60.

Alvarez, X. A., Pichel, V., Perez, P., Laredo, M., Corzo, D., Zas, R., Fernandez-Novoa, L., Sempere, J. M., Diaz, J., and Cacabelos, R. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study with anapsos in senile dementia: effects on cognition, brain bioelectrical activity and cerebral hemodynamics. Methods Find.Exp Clin Pharmacol 2000;22(7):585-594.

Middelkamp-Hup, M. A., Bos, J. D., Rius-Diaz, F., Gonzalez, S., and Westerhof, W. Treatment of vitiligo vulgaris with narrow-band UVB and oral Polypodium leucotomos extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2007;21(7):942-950.

Jimenez, D., Naranjo, R., Doblare, E., Munoz, C., and Vargas, J. F. Anapsos, an antipsoriatic drug, in atopic dermatitis. Allergol.Immunopathol.(Madr.) 1987;15(4):185-189.

Pineiro, Alvarez B. [2 years personal experience in anapsos treatment of psoriasis in various clinical forms]. Med Cutan Ibero.Lat.Am 1983;11(1):65-72.

Del Pino, Gamboa J., De Sambricio, Guiu F., and Colomo, Gomez C. [Comparative study between 120 mg. of anapsos and a placebo in 37 psoriasis patients]. Med Cutan Ibero.Lat.Am 1982;10(3):203-208.

Capella Perez, M. C. and Castells, Rodellas A. [Double-blind study using "anapsos" 120 mg. in the treatment of psoriasis]. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 1981;72(9-10):487-494.

Mercadal, Peyri O. and Maesci, Cappitanio F. [Preliminary communication on the treatment of psoriasis with anapsos]. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 1981;72(1-2):65-68.

Navarro-Blasco, F. J. and Sempere, J. M. Modification of the inflammatory activity of psoriatic arthritis in patients treated with extract of Polipodium leucotomos (Anapsos). Br J Rheumatol. 1998;37(8):912.

Del, PGJ, De, SGF, and Colomo, GC. Comparison of Polypodium leucotomis extract with placebo in 37 cases of psoriasis. Med Cutan Iber Lat Am 1982;10:203-208.

Tanew A, Radakovic S, Gonzalez S, Venturini M, Calzavara-Pinton P. Oral administration of a hydrophilic extract of Polypodium leucotomos for the prevention of polymorphic light eruption. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;66(1):58-62.

Ramírez-Bosca A, Zapater P, Betlloch I, et al. Polypodium leucotomos extract in atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2012;103(7):599-607.

Ahmed AM, Lopez I, Perese F, et al. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of oral Polypodium leucotomos extract as an adjunct to sunscreen in the treatment of melasma. JAMA Dermatol. 2013;149(8):981-3.

Breithaupt AD, Jacob SE. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: a case report of Polypodium leucotomos as an adjuvant therapy. Cutis. 2012;89(4):183-4.

Villa A, Viera MH, Amini S, et al. Decrease of ultraviolet A light-induced "common deletion" in healthy volunteers after oral Polypodium leucotomos extract supplement in a randomized clinical trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62(3):511-3.

Auriemma M, Di Nicola M, Gonzalez S, Piaserico S, Capo A, Amerio P. Polypodium leucotomos supplementation in the treatment of scalp actinic keratosis: could it improve the efficacy of photodynamic therapy? Dermatol Surg. 2015;41(8):898-902.

Caccialanza M, Recalcati S, Piccinno R. Oral polypodium leucotomos extract photoprotective activity in 57 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2011;146(2):85-7.

Goh CL, Chuah SY, Tien S, Thng G, Vitale MA, Delgado-Rubin A. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Polypodium leucotomos extract in the treatment of melasma in Asian skin: a pilot study. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2018;11(3):14-19.

Pacifico A, Damiani G, Iacovelli P, et al. NB-UVB plus oral Polypodium leucotomos extract display higher efficacy than NB-UVB alone in patients with vitiligo. Dermatol Ther. 2021 Jan 12:e14776.

Shinya K, Nishimura Y, Ryu K, et al. Short-term administration of Polypodium leucotomos extract does not inhibit CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of midazolam in healthy subjects: an open-label, two-period, fixed-sequence study. Int J Dermatol 2022.

Pellacani G, Peris K, Ciardo S, et al. The combination of oral and topical photoprotection with a standardized Polypodium leucotomos extract is beneficial against actinic keratosis. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 2023.

Miola AC, Miot HA. Efficacy of oral Polypodium leucotomos, colchicine cream and ingenol mebutate in the treatment of actinic keratoses and cutaneous field cancerization: a randomized clinical trial. An Bras Dermatol 2023;98(2):232-236.

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