This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Spikemoss contains bioactive biflavonoids including amentoflavone, robustaflavone, and hinokiflavone that demonstrate anticancer mechanisms in laboratory studies. These compounds induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells, inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and reduce inflammation through antioxidant activity. Caffeic acid contributes additional anti-inflammatory effects. Evidence level: C (preliminary research). Most data derives from in vitro and animal studies, with limited human clinical trials available.
Does Spikemoss interact with chemotherapy drugs?
Spikemoss may potentially interact with anticancer medications due to its effects on cellular pathways and drug-metabolizing enzymes. The biflavonoids could theoretically alter chemotherapy effectiveness or increase toxicity. Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation should consult their oncologist before using Spikemoss, as interactions have not been systematically studied. Evidence level: C. Always disclose all herbal supplements to your healthcare team during cancer treatment.
What is the correct dosage of Spikemoss for adults?
Traditional and contemporary herbal practice recommends 15-30 grams of dried Spikemoss herb daily, prepared as a decoction by boiling and simmering. Standardized extracts are typically taken at 500mg twice daily. Evidence level: C (traditional use and preliminary research). Dosage should be individualized under guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Start with lower doses to assess tolerance and take with food to minimize digestive effects.
Can I take Spikemoss while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Spikemoss is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The herb contains bioactive biflavonoids that affect cellular processes, and insufficient safety data exists for these populations. Traditional use has not established safety for pregnant or nursing women. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding should avoid Spikemoss entirely. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for appropriate alternatives during these periods.
What is Spikemoss used for in traditional medicine?
Spikemoss (Selaginella doederleinii) has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Southeast Asian medicine for centuries. Traditional applications include supporting cancer treatment, clearing heat conditions, reducing inflammation, and addressing infectious diseases. The herb is prepared as a decoction or taken as an extract. Evidence level: C. While traditional uses are well-documented, modern clinical evidence remains limited. Consult a qualified herbalist for appropriate therapeutic applications.
What side effects can Spikemoss cause?
Spikemoss is generally well-tolerated at recommended doses. Reported side effects are primarily mild digestive effects, including stomach discomfort and nausea, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. Taking the herb with food may reduce these effects. Evidence level: C. Long-term safety data is limited. Discontinue use if adverse reactions occur and seek medical advice. Those with allergies to ferns or related plants should exercise caution.
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Selaginella doederleinii Hieron is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb primarily used for the treatment of various cancers [PMID:35740086, PMID:35571075].
Background
Selaginella doederleinii Hieron is a perennial medicinal herb widely distributed in China [PMID:31892247]. It is categorized as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine [PMID:36874034].
Traditional uses
It is widely used in China to treat several ailments, primarily cancer [PMID:35740086], including throat carcinoma [PMID:36558956], nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, and trophoblastic tumors [PMID:27292193].
Active compounds
The herb contains biflavonoids (such as amentoflavone, palmatine, apigenin, and delicaflavone) [PMID:36874034], triflavonoids (selagintriflavonoids A-H) [PMID:27889245], and various flavonoids including seladoeflavones A-F [PMID:27889540]. Volatile components include terpenes, alkanes, alcohols, ketones, esters, aldehydes, ethers, aromatics, phenols, and furans [PMID:31892247].
Mechanism of action
Anticancer mechanisms involve the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis [PMID:27292193], cell autophagic death via PI3K-Akt-mTOR and AMPKα-signaling pathways [PMID:33192508], and the Akt/Bad and IKKβ/NF-κB/COX-2 pathways in throat carcinoma [PMID:36558956]. It also demonstrates inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and xanthine oxidase [PMID:39456438], as well as BACE1 inhibition [PMID:27889245].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCancer (General/Various)
In vitro and in vivo studies show anti-carcinogenic activities and inhibition of cell proliferation in various cancer cell lines [PMID:35571075, PMID:28230759].
Evidence DThroat Carcinoma
Biflavonoid-rich extract inhibited cell infiltrative growth in Hep-2 and FaDu cells in vitro and showed anti-tumor effects in tumor-bearing nude mice [PMID:36558956].
Evidence DColorectal Cancer
Ethyl acetate extract induced cell autophagic death and apoptosis in HT29 and HCT116 cells in vitro and in vivo [PMID:33192508].
Evidence DLung Cancer (A549)
Ethyl acetate extract inhibits growth of A549 cells via caspase-dependent apoptosis [PMID:27292193].
Evidence DNasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Ethanol extract inhibited proliferation of CNE-1 and C666-1 cell lines [PMID:24311875].
Evidence DAlzheimer's Disease (Potential)
Selagintriflavonoid A exhibited potent BACE1 inhibition (IC50 0.75 μM) in vitro [PMID:27889245].
Safety & adverse effects
One study evaluated the acute oral toxicity of the ethyl acetate extract, though specific adverse effect results were not detailed in the provided abstract [PMID:27292193].
Drug interactions
The ethyl acetate extract from S. doederleinii and its constituents (Amentoflavone, Palmatine, Apigenin, Delicaflavone) were investigated for inhibitory effects on human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes to predict herb-drug interactions [PMID:36874034].
Evidence summary
The evidence is currently limited to in vitro cell line studies and in vivo animal models (predominantly rodents), indicating strong preclinical potential for anticancer and enzyme-inhibitory activities, but lacking human clinical trial data.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36874034 (2023) — Inhibitory effect of Selaginella doederleinii hieron on human cytochrome P450. · Frontiers in pharmacology
2.PMID: 35740086 (2022) — Flavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron and Their Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3.PMID: 31109181 (2021) — New cytotoxic biflavones from Selaginella doederleinii. · Natural product research
4.PMID: 35255433 (2022) — Rapid screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Selaginella doederleinii Hieron by using functionalized magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. · Talanta
5.PMID: 36042169 (2022) — Lactate Dehydrogenase-Inhibitors Isolated from Ethyl Acetate Extract of Selaginella doederleinii by Using a Rapid Screening Method with Enzyme-Immobilized Magnetic Nanoparticles.
Government sources
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 26410323 (2015) — Antioxidant and anticancer effection of the volatile oil from various habitats of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron. · Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine
7.PMID: 36558956 (2022) — A Biflavonoid-Rich Extract from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron. against Throat Carcinoma via Akt/Bad and IKKβ/NF-κB/COX-2 Pathways. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
8.PMID: 35571075 (2022) — Tissue Distribution, Excretion, and Interaction With Human Serum Albumin of Total Bioflavonoid Extract From Selaginella doederleinii. · Frontiers in pharmacology
9.PMID: 28230759 (2017) — Analysis of the Total Biflavonoids Extract from Selaginella doederleinii by HPLC-QTOF-MS and Its In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Effects. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
10.PMID: 39456438 (2024) — Antidiabetic and Antigout Properties of the Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Total Biflavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii Revealed by In Vitro and In Silico Studies. · Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
11.PMID: 33192508 (2020) — Ethyl Acetate Extract of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron Induces Cell Autophagic Death and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer via PI3K-Akt-mTOR and AMPKα-Signaling Pathways. · Frontiers in pharmacology
12.PMID: 29101819 (2018) — Simultaneous quantification of five biflavonoids in rat plasma by LC-ESI-MS/MS and its application to a comparatively pharmacokinetic study of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron extract in rats. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
13.PMID: 27292193 (2016) — Ethyl acetate extract from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron inhibits the growth of human lung cancer cells A549 via caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
14.PMID: 39747499 (2025) — The multi-target mechanism of action of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a network pharmacology and multi-omics analysis. · Scientific reports
15.PMID: 27889245 (2017) — Selagintriflavonoids with BACE1 inhibitory activity from the fern Selaginella doederleinii. · Phytochemistry
16.PMID: 27889540 (2017) — Seladoeflavones A-F, six novel flavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii. · Fitoterapia
17.PMID: 31892247 (2019) — Analysis of the Volatile Components in Selaginella doederleinii by Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
18.PMID: 28387736 (2017) — Optimization of Ionic Liquid-Assisted Extraction of Biflavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant and Antitumor Activity. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
19.PMID: 24311875 (2013) — Effect of ethanol extract of Selaginella doederleinii Hieron on the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-1 and C666-1 cells. · African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
20.PMID: 24115163 (2014) — Preparative isolation of six anti-tumour biflavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron by high-speed counter-current chromatography. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA