ATR-FTIR Spectral Analysis of Ferns Using as Fingerprint for Identification of Fern Species

This study used Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to provided detail information of the organic functional group of secondary metabolites, produced by ferns. The study showed ATR-FTIR spectra of nine fern species: Asplenium scolopendrium, Asplenium trichomanes, Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum, Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris affinis, Dryopteris filix-mas, Polypodium vulgare, Polystichum lobatum and Phegopteris connectilis. After comparison of each plant FTIR region divided in three areas: 2800-3000 cm-1 (aliphatic region), 1600-1800 cm-1 (distinct oxygenated groups) and 700-900 cm-1 (aromatic bands). ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis have been applied for the discrimination of 9 fern species.