Visakhapatnam: Satti NLSK Malathi, a researcher from Andhra University (AU), conducted an extensive study on the distribution and medicinal properties of pteridophytes in Punyagiri, Ananthagiri, and Galikondalu areas of the Eastern Ghats.
Titled “Studies on Ecological and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Pteridophytic Species from Eastern Ghats of India, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam Districts, Andhra Pradesh,” the study focused on analyzing the antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts from plants such as Adiantum raddianum, Asplenium trichomanes, Polypodium vulgare, Adiantum capillus veneris, and Nephrolepis biserrata. These plants have shown potential for treating Salmonella typhi, dental cavities, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and other ailments.
Malathi was awarded a PhD degree in botany by Andhra University for her thesis, which was conducted under the guidance of Prof. PK Ratna Kumar, Head of the Department, and Dr. GM Narasimha Rao, Associate Professor (retired). Prof. PVGD Prasad Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University, extended his congratulations to Malathi on this significant achievement.
Pteridophytes, a group of plants that includes ferns and their relatives, are widely distributed worldwide, with over 300 genera and 12,000 species. India alone is home to nearly 1,000 species, with 47 of them being endemic to the country. Some of these species are classified under the Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) category.