Lichens: traditional use and biological activities

Lichens are a stable symbiotic association between photobiont (algae and/or cyanobacteria) and mycobiont (fungi). They utilized in traditional medicine for ages documented various pharmacopeia throughout the world. India is having rich diversity of lichen species represented by about 2400 species. The tribal inhabitant around forests other difficult terrains acquired unique knowledge use much wide flora fauna. Most these either lesser known or unknown to outside treasure if subjected scientific scrutiny could benefit humankind many ways. produce secondary metabolites through metabolic pathways exhibit array bioactivities. We have reviewed literature biological activities reported study its inter-relationship. It was observed that still major percentage lichens remained unexplored. These may immense potential; analysed be used pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic industries, more.