Abstract: Traditional medicines have been playing a significant role in health care management for a long all over the world especially in rural households. The present study is based on field survey conducted to collect and document the major ethnomedicinal flora used to cure skin diseases by the local peoples and Gujjar tribes inhabiting around the Col. Sher Jung National Park, Simbalbara, Tehsil Paonta Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India. Total 205 informants (55 females; 150 males) from different age groups (25 to 50, 50 to 75, and above 75) participated and agreed to share the traditional knowledge. Analysis revealed that for the treatment of skin ailments total of 53 genera and 62 plant species belonging to 36 families were utilized. The dominant life form utilized was a shrub, along with leaf as the most used plant part, while the preferred method of utilization was poultice. The quantitative parameters applied were use value (UV), family importance value (FIV), and fidelity level (FL). The highest FIV was recorded for the family Zingiberaceae and FL values ranged from 5.37% to 100%. Relative frequency citation values ranged from 0.04 to 0.48%. It was found that people have excellent information with respect to traditional uses of plants. Plants of high use value can be considered for further scientific analysis of this region for new drug discovery.
Key words: Ethnomedicine, Simbalbara National Park, skin diseases.

Abstract: The genus Stictocardia Hallier f. which is known for its characterized black glands on lower leaf surface and distinctive fruit nature is represented by three species in India. The present paper describes the new distribution record and rare habitat of Stictocardia tiliifolia from Kankeshwar Alibag. The species S. tiliifolia is always under controversy for its nomenclature, the present paper thus provides detail taxonomic description along with photographs and relevant notes for its easy identification in field. The species S. tiliifolia is mostly mistaken as S. beraviensis; the former can be easily distinguished by its whitish-pinkish to purple corolla. The study area Kankeshwar is rich is biodiversity though least explored, such field studies will definitely add more data to flora of Alibag.
Key words: Convolvulaceae, fruits, habitat, Kankeshwar, rare, Stictocardia tiliifolia.

Abstract: Despite being located at the confluence of two biodiversity hotspots – the Himalaya and the Indo-Burma – our knowledge on the diversity of longhorn beetle from Northeast India is very limited and account for about a third of the total Indian diversity. Herein, we are reporting a confirmed record of Dorysthenes (Lophosternus) huegelii from Assam, India. A discussion on the limitation on the knowledge of the confirmed distribution range of this species in India based on historical records is also made. Being an economic pest, the knowledge on the distribution of the tree root borer D (L.) huegelii plays an important role in economic pest management. Taxonomic keys to the species under this genus recorded from India is also added.
Key words: Dhemaji, distribution record, longhorn beetles, northeast India, taxonomic keys, undivided Assam.

Abstract: During 2012–2018, a survey was conducted for the protozoan parasites in valley districts of Manipur. Cockroaches were collected using Sweep-netting methods and dissected. Fresh and permanent slides of collected protozoa from the gut; the sample insect were prepared using Haedenhain’s iron, haematoxylin, Giemsa and Eosin stains. Mean, standard deviation and percent of co-efficient of variations are calculated. Two new Eugregarine protozoans namely, Phleobum periplanae sp. nov and Neohirmorcystis canchipurae sp. nov. were revealed new to science. Only 9 species of Phleobum protozoa has been identified so far. The present study added a new species to this group of protozoa. Phleobum periplanae sp. nov. is characterized by spherical epimerite which measures 14.7 – 32.6 µm while the protomerite is broadly ovoid, covered by a thick pellicle which measure 26.9 – 56.9 µm. Fresh gametocytes are yellowish- orange and ellipsoidal. A new species of Neohirmocystis is described here. Only a few species of Neohirmocystis protozoa have been identified. Neohirmocystis canchipurae sp. nov. is characterised by lack of epimerites with atrophozoite length of (159.6-192.6) µm. Gametocyst dehisces by simple rupture releasing spherical spores.
Key words: Didymophyidae, Neohirmocystidae and Periplanata americana.

Abstract: A study was carried out to observe the behavioral changes in three freshwater molluscs species Lamellidens corrianus (Lea, 1834), Parreysia (Parreysia) gowhattensis (Theobald, 1873), and Melania hainesiana (Lea, 1856) due to copper (Cu) exposers. Firstly, acute toxicity was carried out to select the exposed concentrations of Cu. After the exposure in Cu test concentrations, Cu was found to be accumulated in the tissues of mollusc. Kruskal-Wallis test of behaviors showed significant differences among the control and test concentration of Cu. So, the null hypothesis was rejected; i.e., the distribution of movement, visibility of only siphons extension, extension of foot along with visibility of siphons together at the same time and closing of valves without extension of foot and siphon of L. corrianus, P. (P.) gowhattensis were not the same across control, 1% and 10% of 96 h LC₅₀ of Cu. A Kruskal-Wallis test also revealed that in Melania hainesiana significant differences in crawling speed and duration of foot-protrusion among control, 1% and 10% Cu exposed concentrations.
Key words: Behavior, Bivalves, Copper, Gastropod, Toxicity

Abstract: Basella rubra Linn belongs to the family Basellaceae. The people of Manipur have been using plants as indigenous colorants before introducing synthetic colorants in Manipur. In addition traditional natural dyes plants were extinct their exploitation due to unavailability of indigenous knowledge on extracting and dying techniques. Natural dyes are environmental friendly although synthetic dyes rapidly replaced the traditional natural dyes because of availability, cost less, a vast range of new colors and imparted better properties to the dyed materials. Present circumstances, the use of natural dyes has fall-off due to lack of documentation. The traditionally used dye plants Achyranthus aspera and Basella rubra linn of Manipur were investigated for edible herbal pigment and vegetable dyes. Achyranthus aspera is used as natural mordant were as chemical analysis was not done. The chemical analyses of the bioactive compounds present in selected plant Basella rubra were characterized by NMR: (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and DEPT-135 NMR), TLC, UV-Vis, IR, Column Chromatography, LC-MS, profiles were recorded for evaluating the products and identification of the compound. Compound 1,2,3,4 and 5 were isolated by column chromatography from Basella rubra linn. Only compound 4 (3, 5-Bis-aminomethyl-cyclohexanone) and compound 5 (3-(2-Amino-ethyl)-2-aminomethyl-4-ethyl-cyclopentylamine) were identified and not reported before. Purple, red, green and brown pigments which are food grade are separated and characterized.
Key words:  Achyranthus aspera, Basella rubra, Meitei Community, Manipur, Traditional dye.

Abstract: Tropical tasar or Antheraea mylitta is a commercially important non-mulberry silkworm that produces the world famous Indian tropical tasar silk. So far forty-four ecoraces of the species have been reported from different states of India. In West Bengal, previously it had been recorded from the Southern part including Kolkata and the hill region of North Bengal. In June 2020, two beautifully coloured, large-sized male and female tasar moths, a mature tasar worm and an emerged tasar cocoon is observed on the Ber plant or Indian jujube plant (Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.) a secondary food plant of tasar silkworm near Farabari, Siliguri subdivision of Terai agro-ecological zone, West Bengal. This new record updates the present distribution of tasar moth in West Bengal. An attempt has been made in the present work to report the existence of Antheraea mylitta Drury along with photographs from Terai region, West Bengal, India. During the investigation, length and breadth with wing expanded of female and male tasar moth measured about 6cm, 15.4cm and 5.3cm, 14cm respectively. The mature larva was 10.1cm in length, 2.3cm in width and 30.62g in weight. The colour of emerged cocoon was grayish brown, having a shell weight of 1.62g. Based on the present report, further investigation may be carried out in the future to identify the ecorace along with its economic importance in Sericulture.
Key words: Antheraea mylitta, Tasar Silkmoth, Sericulture