Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. (Family: Athyriaceae) (Figure 1), a common pteridophytes, is the most popular edible fern used by the Malaysian community in culinary and as a medicinal plant in the traditional system of medicine. Traditionally, the plant is used in treating headache, pain, fever, wounds, dysentery, glandular swellings, diarrhea, and various skin infections. Reported pharmacological and biological properties of this plant include laxative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. In the present paper, we report some pharmacognostic studies on the leaves since there are no standard parameters for this plant reported in the literature. The transverse section of the leaf showed presence of nonlignified covering trichomes, cuticle, upper and lower epidermis, palisade cells, xylem vessels, phloem fibers, parenchyma, collenchyma’s and mesophyll. Powder microscopy showed the existence of anomocytic stomata and calcium oxalate crystals. Preliminary phytochemistry screening of different extracts showed presence of steroids, triterpenoids, tannins and phenolic substances, flavonoids, carbohydrates, gum and mucillages. Finding can be useful in establishing pharmacognostic standards for the plant.
