The objectives of this research were to investigate the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Ethyl Acetate Root Extract of Ardisia solanacea Roxb. (EREAS) and estimation of its biological activities. Phytochemical screening of EREAS showed the abundance of total phenolics, flavanoids, ortho-dihydric phenols, alkaloids, diterpenes and triterpenes etc. The quantitative analysis of EREAS was also carried out by GC/MS and α-amyrenone (13.3%) was found to be the major component. Antifeeding activity monitored through no choice leaf dip method against Spilosoma oblique. The results revealed dose and time dependent antifeeding activity, where the 100% mortality was observed signifying the intense insecticidal activity. The herbicidal activity of extracts was evaluated against the Raphanus raphanistrum seeds. Accordingly, EREAS showed effective herbicidal activity in terms of inhibition of seed germination, coleoptile length and the radical length. Evaluation of antioxidant activity was performed via DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating of Fe2+ activities. EREAS possessed potential antioxidant property and revealed good anti-inflammatory activity. Manuscript profile

The plant Acmella uliginosa (Sw.) Cass. belonging to family Asteraceae was subjected to hydro distillation for essential oil extraction and was chemically analyzed by GC/MS for its phytochemical composition. Thirty-five compounds were identified comprising 88.1% of total essential oil composition. Limonene (12.2%) along with sesquisabinene isomer (7.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.9%) were the prominent compounds of the essential oil. In-vitro antioxidant activity of essential oil was investigated by DPPH free radical scavenging activity and metal chelating activity having IC50 value of 326.77 ± 5.34 μL and 14.853 ± 0.106 μL respectively whereas reducing power activity having RP50 value of 14.011 ± 0.0446 μL. The essential oil exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity with IB50 value of 5.629 ± 0.0311 μL compared to standard Diclofenac sodium salt having IB50 value of 23.693 ± 0.306 μg/mL. The essential oil displayed exceedingly marked anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activities as compared to standard marketed drugs. Manuscript profile

Essential oils have been used traditionally as herbal medicine in various ailments and can be used as a strong alternative to chemical pesticides. The yield of essential oil from Hedychium spicatum Sm. was 0.9 mg kg−1 regarding its fresh weight. The essential oil was then subjected to column chromatography for separation into polar ethyl acetate and non-polar hexane fractions. The chemical composition of hexane and ethyl acetate column fraction were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the present investigation, the marked effect of anticancer activity from hexane and ethyl acetate fraction of oil of H. spicatum Sm. rhizomes on A431 and MCF cell lines was assessed through micro-culture tetrazolium assay (MTT). The test samples were screened for cytotoxicity against the cell lines at different concentrations of 50, 100, 150 and 200 μL to determine the IC50 value. The hexane and ethyl acetate fractions were screened for their herbicidal activities against Raphanus raphanistrum and also assessed for the feeding performance of Spilosoma obliqua in the laboratory. For antifeedant activity, the antifeedant index calculated over 36 h for neonate larvae increased significantly with concentration in the treated diet. The sprout inhibition activity on Raphanus raphanistrum was studied using petri dish bioassay. The root and shoot length were measured for each concentration after evaluating the activity for 5 days. Based on all the observations, the results indicate that the different fractions of essential oil contain phytotoxic compounds that could be used to develop botanical pesticide and also in the field of cancer drug development. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim:Intraditional medicine system, Nepeta species are widely used to reduce chicken pox, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, influenza, measles, stomach disorders, eye complaints, respiratory disorders, asthma, colds, coughs etc. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils from three species of genus Nepeta viz: Nepeta hindostana (Roth) Haines (NHO), Nepeta graciliflora Benth (NGO) and Nepeta cataria L (NCO).Experimental: The essential oils were analysed by the combination of GC and GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was tested by using reducing power assay, metal chelating of Fe2 +assay, and DPPH radical scavenging assay. In-vitro antinflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation assay and anti-diabetic activity was determined by using α-amylase assay.Results: The major components present in NCO, NHO and NGO were cis-nepetalactone (69.78%), β-farnesene (43.41%) and sesquisabinene (28.75%), respectively. NCO showed the highest percentage inhibition of DPPH radical (IC50=5.89 µl/ml) followed by NHO (IC50=8.63 µl/ml) and then NGO (IC50=13.81 µl/ml). In terms of reducing power assay and metal chelating of Fe2+ assay, the highest antioxidant activity was also shown by NCO. Among the tested essential oil, NCO showed highest in-vitro anti-inflammatory potential (IC50 18.463±0.14 µg/ml) followed by NGO and NHO with IC50 22.035±0.11 µg/ml and 26.17±0.14 µg/ml, respectively. NHO showed maximum antidiabetic activity with IC50 8.92±0.10 µg/ml of α-amylase.Recommended applications/industries: On the basis of present research work it is marked that the essential oil of Nepeta hindostana (Roth) Haines, Nepeta graciliflora Benth. and Nepeta cataria L. is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agent indicating their potentiality in the field of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry Manuscript profile

Background & Aim:Family Zingiberaceae is worldwide in distribution. Plants of the zingiberaceae family are used in traditional herbal folk medicine besides their uses in spices, cosmetic, ornamental, food preservatives etc. In Uttarakhand the herbs grow from sub-tropical to temperate region. Globba sessiliflora Simsrhizomes were collected at maturity stage in November from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. In present communication the medicinal use of various zingiberaceous herb provoked us to study the chemical diversity and pharmacological activity determination of this important traditional herb. Experimental: The essential oil was extracted using hydrodistillation method and analyzed by GC-MS. Anti-inflamatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic activities of essential oil were experimently determined using mice model. Results: The major compounds identified were β-eudesmol (27.6%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (24.3%), α-humulene (3.0%), (6E)-nerolidol (4.1%), caryophyllene oxide (9.7%), γ-eudesmol (6.4%) and τ-muurolol (8.3%) besides other minor constituents. Essential oil of G. sessiliflora rhizome showed good anti-inflamatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic activities at the dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight. The oral administration of the essential oil exhibited no toxicity at 400, 600 and 800 mg/kg b.wt. concentration. Ibuprofen, indomthacin and paracetamol were used as standard drugs for comparison.Recommended applications/industries: G. sessiliflora essential oil can be used as herbal remedy for its nontoxicityanti-inflamatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic activities. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim: Acorus calamus L. is a native herb in India. The herb belongs to family Acoraceae. It is perennial and grows in marshy land with scented rhizomes and tapered reed like leaves with 80-100 cm in height. The leaves generally arise from the rhizomes. It is also known as sweet flag in English and vernacularly as Bach. The present investigation reveals the chemical diversity and antioxidant activity of Acorus calamus leaf essential oils from different altitudinal regions of Uttarakhand. Experimental: The essential oil composition of Acorus calamus (Araceae) leaves, collected from twenty different ecological niches of Uttarakhand, in India with oil yield ranged between 0.2-1.4 percent, were analyzed by GC/MS. DPPH assay were performed for determination of antioxidant activity of each oil. Results: The major component ranging 43.4-60.7% of the total oil was identified as β- asarone. The other predominant constituents were α-asarone (2.6-7.9%), shyobunone (3.4-6.3%) and Z- isoelemicin (3.2-5.4%). The antioxidant activity of essential oil was studied by their ability to scavenge free radicals with different IC50 values (10.79-106.44 μg/ml) in comparison to standard antioxidant. Recommended applications/industries: The vast chemical diversity of the herb essential oil and its antioxidant potential can be good natural source for herbal neutraceuticals and phenyl propanoids, the biologically important class of terpenoids. Manuscript profile

Background & Aim: Acorus calamus L. (Araceae) is an herb traditionally used in Indian and Chinees system of medicine. It is a perennial herb with long, cylindrical scented rhizomes which are creeping and extensively branched with the thickness up to 2.5 cm. The rhizomes are whitish internally and brownish externally in appearance. It is vernacularly known as Bach in India. The present investigation reveals the phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of the rhizome and leaves methanolic extracts of A calamus from three different altitudes of Uttarakhand. Experimental: The extracts compositions of Acorus calamus rhizomes and leaves collected from three different altitudes of Uttarakhand Himalayas, India. The yield of extracts ranged from 0.3- 4.8% w/v, were analyzed by GC/MS and in-vitro antioxidant assay were done by different methods. Results: Over 65 contributing 80.90-90.55 % in different extracts among all the accessions were identified. The major compounds identified were β-asarone (44.9-51.9%), shyobunone (1.1%- 5.3%), Z-methyl isoeugenol (0.1%-2.4%), leinoleic acid (6.4%-18.9%), α-asarone(0.1%-4.6%) and Z-isoelemicin (2.2%-15.8%). The amount of phenolics in rhizome extracts, ranged from 4.10 mg-4.80 mg GAE/g respectively, whereas in leaf extracts the amounts were 2.40-3.26mg GAE/g respectively.All the extracts exhibited good in vitro antioxidant activity with the IC50 values ranging from 0.3- 4.8 % w/v determined by different methods compared to standard antioxidant. Recommended applications/industries: Based on above observations it can be inferred that the herb may be a good source of bioactive compounds and can work as an antioxidant to prevent the oxidative deteriorative activity of food materials beside generation of database for its scientific and judicious in-situ exploitation. Manuscript profile