The researchers of Baripada’s Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University have found 148 lichen species within Similipal National Park, marking the highest count ever recorded in Odisha.
Among these multiple findings, one of the species, Physciella melanchra (also referred to in reports as Physcia melanochroma), has been identified for the first time in India.
Many of these lichens contain bioactive compounds such as thymoquinone, zeorin, and azelaic acid, which exhibit significant anti-cancer potential and could bolster the development of new pharmaceuticals.
Speaking to ANI, Professor Biswajit Rath said, “We received a project on lichen identification from the Odisha government in Simlipal National Park. We surveyed lichens and identified 148 species, including one new to Odisha, Cladonia fruticulosa, and the first in India, Physciella melanchra, which we hadn’t found elsewhere.”
Professor Rath, representing Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, stated that his team’s survey in Similipal National Park successfully catalogued 148 species. This includes one variety previously unseen in the state and another that represents a first-time discovery for the entire country.
The lichen specimens, currently stored at the university’s repository, were found to possess specific chemical compounds with potent antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer characteristics.
“We collected and stored the lichens at the university, identified them, and studied their biopotential activities. The lichens contain valuable compounds with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, including thermoquinone, which kills human pathogens and may have anticancer effects, aligning with our objective,” he said.
The research team gathered the lichen samples from across the park’s core, buffer, and transition zones. Notable genera identified include Parmotrema, Cladonia, Heterodermia, Dirinaria, Trypethelium, Diorygma, and Graphis. Highlighting the rarity of the finds, Physciella melanchra stands as a new record for India, while Cladonia fruticulosa is a first for the state of Odisha.
Lichens are unique composite organisms resulting from a symbiotic partnership between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. They are remarkably resilient, capable of thriving in extreme environments and enduring intense heat, heavy rainfall, prolonged drought, and various biological threats.
To survive, lichens synthesise specialised bioactive compounds that serve as natural shields. These same chemicals can benefit human health by acting as germ-fighters and antioxidants that neutralise free radicals. The researchers specifically identified thymoquinone in these lichens—a compound renowned for its anti-cancer properties and traditionally associated with black cumin (Nigella sativa), but now confirmed in this fungal-algal partnership.
The collection effort spanned the varied landscapes of Similipal, from its core to its transition zones, covering genera such as Parmotrema and Graphis. Rare finds like Physciella melanchra and Cladonia fruticulosa have been meticulously documented. All collected samples are now preserved in the Lichen Repository at MSCB University to facilitate ongoing and future scientific inquiry.
Located in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, Similipal National Park is a renowned biosphere reserve characterized by dense forests and populations of tigers and elephants. Its pollution-free environment, high rainfall, and diverse substrates—including rocks, soil, and tree trunks—provide the perfect habitat for a vast array of flora and fauna. This pristine setting has recently proven to be a vital sanctuary for an extraordinary number of lichen species.
