Lichens in Genus Parmelia: An Overview and Their Application.

Parmelia belonging to Family Parmeliaceae is a foliose lichen with mutualism of one or two groups of fungi in Phylum ascomycota or basidiomycota and algae which might be green algae or blue green algae (cyanobacteria). It is generally called "Stone Flower," "Charila," "Pattharphool," or "Shilaaapushpa" in India. Lichen, can be generally found growing on walls, old trees and spread largely across India especially in mountain area. It is a source of edible organisms for people residing in certain areas of Nepal and it is also cultivated in hill sides of Kashmir. It has been found that lichen contains a lot of distinctive chemical compounds such as evernic acid, Lecanoric acid, lobaric acid. norsticticetc acid, physodic acid and salazinic acid. Some species of this lichen are recommended traditionally for controlling diseases such as boils, bronchitis, inflammations, excessive salivation, toothache, vomiting etc. It has also applied as indicator for biomonitoring, astringent, carminative, demulcent, bitter, resolvent, emollient, laxative, sporofic, sedative, diuretic and considered to be used in treating sores, bronchitis, excessive salivation, vomiting, tooth-ache, boils, inflammations. It has been utilized for traditional food and acts as a bioindicator for air pollution and radiation. It shows antibacterial, antioxidant, antimycobacterial and antifungal activities including haemolytic, anaesthetic, spasmolytic and antispasmodic and antitumour activities. It also has several unique phytoconstituents that could be in charge of different therapeutic activities but majority of them are still unexplored. The review mainly focuses on various facets such as common names, synonyms, traditional uses, botanical descriptions, pharmacological activities of seven species of Parmelia.