The review reports Ethnomedicinal use of 421 number of plants by 24 tribal communities of Orissa state, living in 11 undivided districts. This covers the use of plants for about 166 diseases. The plants so far reported are, 67 for diarrhoea; 50 for dysentery; 30 for rheumatism; 26 for fever; 24 for skin infection; 21 for cough and cold; 21 for toothache; 20 for headache; 19 as antidote for poisoning; 14 for bleeding piles; 14 for leucorrhoea; 13 for eye complaints; 12 for malaria are significant. Orissa being a diarrhoea dominated state as reported earlier also tops in ethnomedicinal exploration from diarrhoeal point of view. Interestingly plants are reported more than 7 times by different tribal communities for various diseases; but with a common utility against diarrhoea. Among the districts, the reports are from Phulbani and Boudh of 164 plants; Sundargarh 107; Bhadrak 83; Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj 82 each; Koraput 75; Bolangir 65; Dhenkanal 53; Ganjam 42; Sambalpur 40 and Kalahandi 30 in descending order. Among the tribals, the Kondh tribe is reported for 175 times; Santal 166; Munda 122; Oriya 106; Bhuinya and Kol 87 times each; Kolha, Bunda, Bathuri and Bhuian 82 times each; Tanla 53; Bondo 43; Oraon 42 and all other tribes less than 40 times with minimum report from Khariya 3 times. The medicinal values extracted from leaf are 212 times; root 210; stem bark/whole stem/stem sap/bark leachate 138; whole plant 77; seed 68; fruit 53; flower 27; latex 25; rhizome 21 and other plant parts with minor use. 27 different plant parts are used by the tribes as reported. The plants like Abrus precatorius, Achyranthes aspera, Alstonia scholaris, Andrographis paniculata, Asparagus racemosus, Barleria prionitis, Calotropis gigantea, Careya arborea, Cissampelos pareira, Cuscuta reflexa, Datura metel, Elephantopus scaber, Hemidesmus indicus and Ficus benghalensis are significant from cross cultural point of view.