shami :
CONCLUSION:
Parmelia Perlata (Huds.) Ach. belonging t o Parmeliaceae family is a lichen (a close symbiotic association between algae and fungi), commonly called ‘Stone Flower’ and ‘Charila’ in India. It i s widely distributed in hilly areas of Indian subcontinent. The lichen was fo und to contain several unique chemical constituents like usnic acid, lecaronic acid, salazinic acid, atronin etc and has been traditionally prescribed in bronchitis, excessive salivation, vomiting, toothache, boils, inflammations etc. It has also been indicated in seminal weakness, nocturnal emission, amenorrhoea, leucorrhoea, dyspepsia, calculi, blood and heart diseases, stomach disorders, enlarged spleen, bleeding piles, scabies, leprosy, general pains etc. It tones up the urinary tract and suppresses calculi formation. It has been used as traditional food by Rai and Limbu communit ies of East Nepal and also as light brown dye for wool as well as bio-indicator of air pollution due to heavy metals. Although it has already been substantiated for antimicrobial, antiurolithiatic, anticancer, antidiabetic potentials etc. yet not fully explored for therapeutic effects and thus remained pharmaceuticall y unexploited. It is probably due to difficulties in identification, bulk collection and lack of updated scientific reports on lichens.
