Thermal and chemical characterization of Dicksonia sellowiana extract by means of thermal analysis

Dicksonia sellowiana Hook., Dicksoniaceae, is a tree-fern which is being recently used in medicine mainly for its phytotherapic activities. While several other studies have focused on D. sellowiana extract characterization in terms of its biological and antioxidant activity, the novelty of this work aims to understand the fate of this extract during thermal disposal through thermegravimetry/differential thermal analysis, thermegravimetry/mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis, to further characterize this plant's extract. Thermal analysis revealed mass loss within three welldefined steps, with the respective mass signals represented generated during heating. Light-volatiles were released during the first step, with release of NO2, CO2, and ethanol in the following, as a result of extract pyrolytic decomposition. Furthermore, mass signals variation during heating indicated the release of harmless by products in contrast to other pharmaceutical and personal care products. Finally, chemical characterization confirmed the observed under thermal analysis suggesting a highly polar structure within extract's composition. (C) 2018 Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.