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

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:Caryopteris odorata is an aromatic shrub of family verbenaceae growing in tropical to subtropical regions. Various traditional applications of this plant have been documented guiding us to investigate the pharmacological activities and to further investigate the chemical composition. Experimental: Methanolic extract of aerial parts of Caryopteris odorata was investigated for antioxidant activity and the major phyto-constituents and total phenolic content were screened. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity using DPPH radical scavenging, NO radical scavenging, so radical scavenging activity, Metal chelating and reducing power assay. The antimicrobial efficacy was determined using agar well diffusion method against gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria. Sensitivity in terms of zones of inhibition and phytochemical composition of the extracts were also determined. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation method. Diclofenec Sodium was used as a standard drug for the study of anti-inflammatory activity. Results: The results revealed that, methanolic extracts possess broad spectrum antibacterial activity against three microorganisms. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of diterpenes carbohydrates, glycosides, sterols and triterpenoids, aliphatic acids , tocopherols and phenolics. The methenolic extract exhibit strong antioxidant activity (IC50 values for DPPH assay 164.60 ±0.37 mg/ml, for metal chelating 280.30 ± 3.28 mg/ml, for reducing assay 80.38 ± 0.79 mg/ml, respectively). The extract also showed in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the heat induced albumin denaturation with IC50 value as 497.22 ± 1.34 mg/ml, respectively. From the result, it is concluded that the C.odorata possess a rich amount of different class of compounds and further the phytochemicals present in the C.odorata extract may be responsible for the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Recommended applications/industries: The results obtained from various activities suggest Caryopteris odorata application as natural alternative antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial reagent. 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