SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PTERIDOPHYTES PLANT DIVERSITY AND THEIR USES IN HUMAN DISEASES

Pteridophytes consist of non-flowering primitive vascular plants. There are about 1200 species in 305 genera, of which 191 genera are found in India. The traditional systems of medicine have often been used for various historical, cultural and ecological reasons. The medicinal value of Pteridophytes against bacteria, fungi, viruses, cancer rheumatism, diabetes, inflammation, infertility, diuretics, pesticides, hepatoprotective and sedatives had been reported, which yield appreciable quality and quantity of polysaccharides, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids and antibiotics are extracted out in form of drugs for many ailments/diseases and they are reservoirs of many organic compounds that are useful as medicines and continuously used in herbal medicine in many countries. Medicinal Pteridophytes plant species have been considered an excellent source of medicine since ancient times and remain underexplored in ethnobotanical aspects when compared to other vascular plants. The medicinally important pteridophytes used by different ethnic minorities and local people in India. We have surveyed and studied the different plant parts such as root, rhizome, young fronds, mature leaves, lamina, rachis & shoots and their crude extracts that have been used in the Indian traditional system of medicine and have clinical activit. In the present investigation, we have studied and collected information about the uses of some fern medicinal plant species for different treatments. Our study has reported the nineteen numbers of medicinal pteridophytes plant species belonging to different families. Therefore, it is suggested that our study on the medicinal fern plant species could be helpful & useful in the different human diseases.