Aims: The demand for nutraceutical and their products are increasing in modern era throughout the world. The prime sources of nutraceutical are floral & faunal wealth including microbial diversity. Among them, wild mushroom play a vital role and provide food for local communities which have medicinal values too. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been taken to enumerate the wild mushroom available in Dhenkanal district of Odisha state. Place and Duration of Study: The survey was carried out in selected areas of Dhenkanal district of Odisha state in 2019 and species are photographed followed by identification using Flora’s book and available literature. Results: Survey revealed that 60 species of wild mushrooms are recorded belonging to 33 genus and 25 families. It was observed that 10 species are edible and consumed by local communities rest are poisonous or bitter which could be used to isolate bioactive compounds to treat lethal disease. Conclusion: The present study highlights the diversity of wild mushroom in Dhenkanal district of Odisha and their food & medicinal potentials for future nutraceuticals & pharmaceuticals.

Costus speciosus L. is a tuberous plant commonly available in wetlands and near water bodies throughout Odisha state and used as food and medicinal purposes. The tribal communities of the state used the rhizome to cure joint pain, skin infections and consume as nutraceutical. The above claims are supportive of the fact that the rhizome might have antioxidant potentials and might be rich with diverse secondary metabolites. Keeping this in view an attempt has been made to evaluate the bioactive compounds present in the plant parts and antioxidant potentials in order to validate the tribal claims. Results revealed that the plant parts are rich with phenolic compounds and have antioxidant potential.

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Strobilanthes affinis (Griff.) Terao ex J.R.I. Wood J.R. Benn, a lesser known species of Acanthaceae family, is reported here as new to the flora of Manipur State, India.  A brief description of the species is provided along with phenological data, microscopic structure of pollen, distribution, and notes on associated flora and habitat.  Photographs are also provided for easy identification in the field.

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