Polypodium leucotomos

Polypodium leucotomos (PLE) is an epiphytic fern species that was originally native to Central America, where it is also known as "calaguala". The Mayas used Polypodium leucotomos as a "blood purification tea". Polypodium leucotomos rarely grows on the ground. The plant has a thick, highly branched rhizome covered in red scales. The stems are long and connected to the rhizome by small polypodia. The leaves are 30-150 cm long, 18-50 cm wide, with 10-40 cm long petioles and a blunt, sharp or rounded end. They can be firm, herbaceous, papery or membranous-leathery, and are usually smooth. They are now cultivated in plantations in various Latin and South American countries.

Studies: In vitiligo, in combination with narrow-band UVB irradiation (Phillipps TL-01/initial dose between 210 and 360 mJ/cm2), repigmentation could be detected in up to 50% of patients, but only in the head and neck area (Middelkamp-Hup MA et al. 2007)

• Inhibition of the loss of Langerhans cells
• Inhibition of the formation of cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimers by UVB rays
• Inhibition of collagen proteinases
• Inhibition of the migration of mast cells into the skin.

Use as a peroral light protection agent.

As an experimental method for:

• Vitiligo
• psoriasis vulgaris
• solar urticaria
• polymopher light dermatosis

1. Caccialanza M (2007) Photoprotective activity of oral polypodium leucotomos extract in 25 patients with idiopathic photodermatoses. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 23: 46-47
2. Janczyk A et al (2007) A Polypodium leucotomos extract inhibits solar-simulated radiation-induced TNF-alpha and iNOS expression, transcriptional activation and apoptosis. Exp Dermatol 6:823-829
3. Middelkamp-Hup MA (2007) 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 21: 942-950
4. Middelkamp-Hup MA, Pathak MA, Parrado C, Goukassian D, Rius-Diaz F, Mihm MC, Fitzpatrick TB, Gonzalez S (2007) Oral Polypodium leucotomos extract decreases ultraviolet-induced damage of human skin. J Am Acad Dermatol 51: 910-918