A brief review on pharmacological activities of Azolla

Abstract: Azolla, a free-floating aquatic fern with enormous herbal efficiency in traditional medicine. Azolla species, largest tropical ferns shows very fast growth rate. It was reported that its biomass can grow double in just 10 to 15 days. It can synthesize variety of bioactive components for the benefits of humans. It gains attraction with its wide range of pharmacological activities such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-caries activities. Due to the emergence of novel diseases, it is inevitable to find out drugs from plant based source. Plant based medicines are indigenous systems of medicine practiced by physicians for more than hundreds of years. Plant based medicines are now in great demand in the developing world for primary health care not because they are inexpensive but also for better compatibility with the human body system and very low side effects. Because of this reason the present review focused to reveal the pharmaceutical significance of Azolla species.

Keywords: Azolla, pharmacological activities, herbal medicine