Background: Callicarpa macrophylla (Varbenaceae) is a medicinal shrub and is traditionally used in India, China, and South Asia. Methods: The plant material was collected from lower Himalayan region of Uttarakhand in India. The essential oils from three different aerial parts were analyzed by GC-MS. Antioxidant activity, phenolic assay, and various pharmacological activities were determined by using existing methods which are generally practiced widely. Results: Over 51, 53, and 40 compounds were identified in C. macrophylla leaves essential oil (CMLEO), C. macrophylla pre mature seeds and fruits essential oil (CMEO-I) and C.macrophylla mature seeds and fruits essential oil (CMEO-II), respectively. These oils differ in relative contents of major compounds viz; β-selinene (37.51% in CMLEO, 44.66% in CMEO-I and 57.01% in CMEO-II), phyllocladene (9.76% in CMLEO, 5.80% in CMEO-I and 12.38% in CMEO-II), caryophelline oxide (7.34% in CMLEO, 8.74% in CMEO-I and 5.0% in CMEO-II), 9E-epi-caryophelline (6.23% in CMLEO, 1.27% in CMEO-I and 3.43% in CMEO-II), longipinocarvone (4.96% in CMLEO, 1.17% in CMEO-I and 2.0% in CMEO-II), and 1,8-cineole (2.23% in CMLEO, 3.10% in CMEO-I and 1.62% in CMEO-II). The oils exhibited good in vitro antioxidant activity. The maximum activity was found in CMEO-II with IC₅₀ values 7.37 ± 0.11, 11.49 ± 0.87, 14.59 ± 0.18, 15.66 ± 0.03, and 17.49 ± 0.13 µl/mL. The essential oils showed qualitative and quantitative diversity in the makeup of essential oils constituents. The oils were found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity on swiss albino mice compared to the standard drugs, viz; ibuprofen, paracetamol and indomethacin. Conclusion: It is inferred from the study that the plant parts can be used scientifically in traditional systems as folk herbal medicine. Furthermore, we have generated a database for future reference and judicious exploitation of these oils from their natural setting.

Hedychium coccineum Buch. Ham. ex Sm. is a perennial rhizomatous herb belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. The aim of the present study was to compare the chemical composition and biological activities of H. coccineum rhizome essential oil (HCCRO) and H. coccineum aerial part essential oil (HCCAO). The plant material was subjected to hydro-distillation using Clevenger’s apparatus in order to obtain volatile oil and analyzed for its chemical constituents using GC-MS. The comparative study of the rhizome and aerial part essential oils of H. coccineum displayed that (E)-nerolidol (15.9%), bornyl acetate (13.95%), davanone B (10.9%), spathulenol (8.9%), and 1, 8-cineol (8.5%) contributed majorly to the HCCRO, while 7-hydroxyfarnesen (15.5%), α-farnesene (11.1%), α-pinene (10.9%), spathulenol (7.7%), and β-pinene (6.8%) were present as major constituents in the HCCAO. Both the essential oils were studied for their biological activities, such as nematicidal, insecticidal, herbicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activities. The essential oils exhibited significant nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne incognita, insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura, and moderate herbicidal activity against R. raphanistrum sub sp. sativus, and good antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Curvularialunata. Essential oils were also tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Both oils showed good to moderate activity against the tested pathogens. The significant nematicidal, insecticidal, herbicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial activities of both the essential oils might be helpful for the development of environmentally friendly pesticides that could be an alternative to synthetic pesticides in the future.

Background: Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) is a known herbal drug commonly used in traditional medicine. Our aim was to perform seasonal and altitudinal phytochemical screening to assess the antioxidant activity of the essential oils in the rhizome and leaves of A. calamus from three different altitudes. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed using GC/MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant assay was done by different methods. Results: The essential oils mainly contained α-asarone, β-asarone (35.3–90.6%), and Z-isoelemicin (1.7–7.3%) as the major constituents, besides linalool, Z-methyl isoeugenol, shyobunone, kessane, etc. All the oils exhibited vast molecular diversity in terms of quantitative ingredients. All essential oils were studied for their antioxidant activity by different methods, including their effect on the DPPH radical-scavenging activity, reducing power, and chelating properties of Fe²⁺. The oils isolated in all the different seasons exhibited antioxidant activity as a function of concentration, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 475.48 ± 0.08 to 11.72 ± 0.03 compared to standards. Conclusion : From the results obtained it can be inferred that the herb may be a good source of bioactive compounds and can work as an antioxidant to prevent oxidative deterioration in food. The data provide a basis for its in-situ investigation for judicious exploitation.

The chemical composition of hydro-distilled essential oil from rhizomes of Curcuma amada was analysed. Nineteen compounds representing 77.31% of the total essential oil were identified by GC and GC-MS. Rhizomes were extracted by various solvents with different polarities using various antioxidant assay systems. The petroleum ether extract showed potent DPPH radical scavenging activities (IC₅₀ = 18.98 ± 0.05) and reducing power (A₇₀₀ = 0.861 ± 0.001). Ethyl acetate extract exhibited remarkable nitric oxide radical scavenging activity (IC ₅₀ = 5.97 ± 0.09) higher than that of ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 6.05 ± 0.02). The essential oil showed promising superoxide radical scavenging activities (IC₅₀ = 15.30 ± 0.03 μg/ml) as compared with ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ = 15.28 ± 0.01). The results indicate that the oil and organic extracts from rhizomes of C. amada could serve as an important bioresource of antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Present research reports chemical composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory insect anti-feedant, and sprout suppressant activity in essential oil from aerial parts of Cotinus coggygria Scop. (syn. Rhus cotinus) growing widely in Uttarakhand, Himalaya. C. coggygria Scop. is commonly known as ‘smoke tree’ or ‘smoke bush’ due to its flowers those give the smoke like appearance. It is an ornamental plant with many medicinal usages. GC/MS analysis identified over 52 compounds, which contributed to 96 % of the total essential oil. The compounds identified were myrcene (39.5 %), pinene (11.4 %), α-terpineol (8.5 %), cymene (5.7 %), sabinene (5 %), spathulenol (2.7 %), β-pinene oxide (2.6 %), globulol (2.4 %) and caryophyllene (1.6 %). Antioxidant activity through DPPH radical scavenging and metal chelating showed that the plant possesses good antioxidant potential (IC₅₀=10.3±0.6 μL) and (IC₅₀=12.6±0.0 μL) respectively. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil results with IB₅₀=12.3±0.3 μL. Insect antifeedant activity against Spilosoma obliqua Walker and sprout suppressant activity against Raphanus raphanistrum showed results in time and dose-dependent manner.

The aim of present study was to evaluate chemical composition and different biological activities viz., pharmacological and antioxidant activities of essential oils. The chemical composition of essential oils was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry while biological activities were evaluated by standard protocols. Essential oils of Hedychium spicatum Sm. from two different ecological niches viz; Nainital (Site-I) and Himachal Pradesh (Site-II) of India revealed the qualitative and quantitative chemo-diversity. Both the oils were dominated by oxygenated terpenoids. Major marker compounds identified were eucalyptol, camphor, linalool, α-eudesmol, 10-epi-γ-eudesmol, and iso-borneol. Both the oils exhibited anti-inflammatory activity suppressing 17.60 % to 33.57 % inflammation at 100mg/kg b. wt. dose levels compared to ibuprofen-treated group (40.06 %). The sub-acute inflammation in oils-treated mice groups (50 and 100 mg/kg b. wt.) increased on day 2 but showed a gradual decrease from day 3 onwards and then recovered to normal by day 10. The antinociception percentage for doses (50 and 100 mg/kg b. wt.) ranged from 33.70-40.46 % in Site-I and 30.34-42.39 % in Site-II compared to standard drug, ibuprofen (43.08 %). The oils also showed a good antipyretic effect by suppressing Brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) induced pyrexia after oil dose injection. The oils also exhibited good antioxidant activity.