Pimpinella candolleana Wight & Arn. (Apiaceae): A promising wild edible herb with potential medicinal properties from Northeast India

Pimpinella candolleana Wight & Arn. (Apiaceae) is a species within a taxonomically complex group which has been documented first time for its distributional record from Northeast India. The species has been identified based on comprehensive morphological and anatomical studies coupled with ITS2 DNA barcoding. The current findings resolved the historical taxonomic misidentification of the species from Manipur, one of the northeastern states of India. The plant is traditionally used as a wild edible herb for culinary purposes as well as for medicinal practices. It exhibits notable bioactive phytochemicals, underscoring its potential in functional foods and pharmaceutical development. Other relevant data on distribution within the state with their corresponding location sites, ecology and species diversity of the genus are incorporated. To balance species utilization with conservation, a sustainable harvesting protocol has been developed, prioritizing ecological preservation. These insights highlight the socio–economic and therapeutic relevance of the plant while advocating urgent research and conservation strategies to mitigate threats from habitat degradation and unsustainable exploitation.