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This is the research project of Shagufta Shaheen in her M.Sc. (Botany) at GC University Lahore. In this project three species of ferns named Pteris cretica, Asplenim varians and Onychium joponicum were collected from Murree, Pakistan in order to study their morpho-palynological features as well as the skin irritancy and antimicrobial activity. The morpho-palynological investigations were done including the study of the cytomorphological features by transverse sectioning and dry powder mounts. Skin irritancy and the Antimicrobial activity were evaluated by obtaining the crude extracts of various plant parts in solvents of wide polarity such as petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol.It was found out that the extracts of Onychium japonicum were most active than the other two ferus as regards, the skin irritancy and antimicrobial potential were concerned. As a whole petroleum ether extracts of various plant parts of the these three species were comparatively more active; and the gram positive bacteria were more susceptible than the gram negative baceria and the fungus.

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