Published Paper Details:

As dynamic ecosystems that bridge the land and sea, salt marshes are essential to preserving biodiversity and sustaining a range of ecological functions. These ecosystems support distinct plant and microbial communities because of their nutrient-rich sediments, tidal inundation, and changing salinity. Through specialised physiological systems like salt excretion, water retention, and oxygen transfer in waterlogged soils, salt marsh vegetation--which is mainly made up of halophytes--has evolved to extremely saline environments. Salt marshes are vital for carbon sequestration, coastal stabilisation, and providing breeding and feeding habitat for a variety of wildlife on a global scale. They serve as organic barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion, and they play a major role in the cycling of nutrients. Salicornia brachiata, Sueda nudiflora, and Aeluropus lagopoides are among the species that flourish in salt marshes, which are mostly found along the coastlines of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal in India. Rising sea levels, pollution, and habitat loss pose challenges to salt marshes notwithstanding their biological significance. Salt marsh plants' biochemical potential has drawn interest due to its potential uses in phytoremediation, biofuels, medicines, and agriculture. These plants are useful for medical study because they generate bioactive chemicals that have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities. Furthermore, they are potential options for biofuel production and sustainable agriculture due to their capacity to thrive in saline conditions. With an emphasis on biochemical viewpoints, this review examines the ecological importance, resource availability, harvesting practices, byproduct utilisation, and research developments in salt marshes.