A review of Biosystematics, Phylogeny, and Ethnopharmacognostic Potential of Sphaeropteris moluccana: Implications for Drug Discovery

Abstract

Sphaeropteris moluccana, an arborescent fern of the family Cyatheaceae, is widely distributed in the Malesian region yet remains underrepresented in integrative biological and pharmacological research. This review synthesizes biosystematic knowledge on S. moluccana published over the last decade (2015–2025), with emphasis on morphological taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics, and ethnopharmacognosy, to evaluate its evolutionary significance and bioactive potential. A systematic literature survey was conducted using Scopus-indexed publications, focusing on taxonomic revisions, phylogenetic analyses, and ethnobotanical and pharmacological studies related to Sphaeropteris and allied taxa. Recent morphological assessments, combined with the adoption of the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group I classification, have stabilized the taxonomic placement of Sphaeropteris within Cyatheaceae. Meanwhile, molecular phylogenetic studies have confirmed its monophyly and clarified evolutionary relationships at the genus and family levels. However, species-level molecular data for S. moluccana remain limited. Ethnopharmacognostic evidence suggests that tree ferns are traditionally used for wound healing and anti-inflammatory purposes, although direct pharmacological validation of S. moluccana is limited. By integrating systematics with ethnopharmacological insights, this review highlights critical knowledge gaps and proposes a biosystematics-driven framework to guide future drug discovery and conservation-oriented research on S. moluccana.