[4] As a result, Alsophila firma is considered threatened in the state of Veracruz and has been given special protection per Mexican law.

[6] Alsophila firma is the host species to a number of fungi including Bisporella pteridicola, Crocicreas quinqueseptatum, Dasyscyphella dryina, Hyaloscypha fuckelii, among others.

[7] In Mexican traditional medicine, a filtered infusion of the dried rhizome of Alsophila firma is used to control blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes in a fasting state.

Research by an ethnopharmacology group at the National Autonomous University of Mexico showed both significant glycemic control among hyperglycemic rats who were given an aqueous extract and inhibition of glucose 6-phosphatase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase in in vitro assays.

[8] Based on these results, the ability to regulate hyperglycemia is believed to be related to inhibiting hepatic glucose output while in a fasting state.