A new species of Rubiaceae from the Kalakkad‐Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu, India, Neumcalyx bremeri, is described and illustrated. Conservation status assigned as Critically Endangered by applying IUCN Red List Category criteria is provided.

Hugonia mystax L., (Linaceae), is commonly distributed in the thorny scrubs and tropical dry evergreen forests of Tamil Nadu, which has been valued for centuries in traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. In the present study was an attempt to investigate the phytochemical nature and anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial potential by adopting suitable methods. Phytochemical analysis of Hugonia mystax L., plant extracts revealed the presence of various biochemical compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, triterpenoids and saponins etc. Since triterpenoids and flavonoids have remarkable anti-inflammatory activity, so our present work aims at evaluating in vitro anti inflammatory activity of Hugonia mystax L., by HRBC membrane stabilization method. The inhibition of hypotonicity induced HRBC membrane lysis was taken as a measure of the anti-inflammatory activity. The percentage of membrane stabilization for ethanolic extracts and Diclofenac sodium were done at different concentrations. The maximum membrane stabilization of Hugonia mystax L., extracts was found to be 94.97 % at a dose of 2000 μg/ml. Therefore, our studies support the isolation and the use of active constituents from Hugonia mystax L., in treating inflammations.

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Mahonia imbricata was reported for the first time from Manipur, India. This paper describes taxonomy, morphology, phenology, habitat requirements, ecology and world distribution of the species. On the basis of the examined specimens, notes and photographs for easy identification are presented.