The present study focuses on exploring the presence of phytochemicals, antioxidants and antimicrobial potential of methanolic extract of root of Berberis aristata. The preliminary qualitative analysis of phytochemicals, free radical scavenging activity, antimicrobial potential and FTIR spectrophotometry were investigated from the root extracts of Berberis aristrata. Methanolic extract of root showed the presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and saponins. Further antioxidant assay like DPPH (Diphenyl -2-Picrylhydrazyl) assay was done. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was expressed in % inhibition. In present study, the % inhibition of methanolic extract was 52% and IC50 value was 26^g/ml. Antimicrobial screening showed good positive results with tested pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas areginousa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer) spectroscopic studies revealed different characteristic peak values which confirmed that there is presence of various phytocompounds such as lipids, proteins in the methanolic root extracts. The FTIR method was performed on a spectrophotometer system, which was used to detect the representative peak values along with their functional groups. The results of the present study generated the FTIR spectrum profile for the medicinally important plant Berberis aristata. This preliminary study shows that root part of Berberis aristata is a promising herb with many phytochemicals, antioxidants and antimicrobial potential.

Objective: The objective of this study is to elucidate phytochemical contents, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of wild mushrooms collectedfrom Himachal Pradesh.Methods: Quantitative analysis of phytochemical constituents was carried out using standard methods while 1,1 diphenylpicrylhydrazyl nitric oxide,hydrogen peroxide-free radical scavenging assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties of selected wild mushrooms. Anti-inflammatorycapacity of samples was evaluated by human red blood cell membrane stabilization and albumin denaturation inhibition method.Results: The results obtained revealed that Pleurotus floridanus showed higher total phenol, flavonoid carotenoid, and ascorbic acid contentsof 61.13±2.3 mg/g, 15.2±1.13 mg/g, 12.42±0.42 μg/g, 17.36±0.40 μg/g, and 14.55±0.58 mg/g. All the species showed antioxidant potential, butP. floridanus proved to be more active while Macrocybe sp. proved to be least one.Conclusion: The mushroom species analyzed have been showed to be good source of phytoconstituents, antioxidants, and also possess antiinflammatoryproperties, thus can be used in the management of oxidative stress-induced disease.Keywords: Wild mushrooms, Scavenging effect, Total phenol, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory.