Selected Pteridophytes with Therapeutical Importance

Knowledge about the use of medicinal plants has been accumulated over centuries and such plants are valued even today, although other synthetic formulations attained greater prominence in modern medicine. Pteridophytes are of common occurrence in our premises but a neglected group when it comes to its biological properties. The aesthetic value of the plants is widely exploited while the therapeutical importance is less considered. It is an ethno-botanically important group used by tribal people for curing various diseases like rheumatism, ulcers etc. Being a less explored area, the present study deals with the antibacterial properties of some selected pteridophytes against clinical pathogens of human origin. Apart from this, identification of the major chemical group with potential activity was also attempted. This resulted in the establishment of some pteridophytes which can be explored as a source for novel antibacterial compounds in treating drug resistant human pathogens.