Myrmecophytes – A Wonder in Mutualistic World

Year : 2025 | Volume : 15 | Special Issue 01 | Page : 18 23
    By

    Ranjeet Kaur Parmar,

  • Vikrant Arya,

  • Amandeep Kaur Gill,

  • Vinay Thakur,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  2. Research Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CT University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
  4. Principal, Govt. Pharmacy College Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

In nature, organisms have an inherent ability to interact with each other constructing the ultimate basis of simple to diversified relationships among themselves. Myrmecophytes emerge because of the complex association between plants and ants which coevolve over time. They develop specialized structures and mechanisms to interact with ants in a mutualistic manner. Ant’s dispersal of seeds via myrmecochory, extrafloral nectaries, food bodies, and domatia are among several tools that make this mutualistic interaction possible. Myrmecophytes provide food and shelter to the ants; in return, ants shield them from predators and herbivores. These interactions help to facilitate their survival under the extremities of nature. Recently, the role of fungus in contributing to the existing knowledge of plant-ant interactions has also been reported which suggests the successful three-way symbiosis. From an ecological point of view, myrmecophytes have a significant role in maintaining the harmony of a particular niche. They have also been explored therapeutically, and several epiphytic Myrmecophytes (Myrmecodia) and other species have been reported to be pharmacologically active. In this paper, an attempt has been made to highlight this extraordinary species considering their ecological and therapeutic prospects.

 

Keywords: Adaptation, myrmecophytes, mutualism, myrmecodia, therapeutic prospects

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal (osmj)]

How to cite this article:
Ranjeet Kaur Parmar, Vikrant Arya, Amandeep Kaur Gill, Vinay Thakur. Myrmecophytes – A Wonder in Mutualistic World. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(01):18-23.
How to cite this URL:
Ranjeet Kaur Parmar, Vikrant Arya, Amandeep Kaur Gill, Vinay Thakur. Myrmecophytes – A Wonder in Mutualistic World. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(01):18-23. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/osmj/article=2025/view=195235


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Special Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 15
Special Issue 01
Received 14/10/2024
Accepted 24/11/2024
Published 23/01/2025
Publication Time 101 Days
402

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