The essential oil composition of Acorus calamus (Acoraceae) rhizomes, collected from twenty different ecological niches in Uttarakhand, India, with an oil yield ranging between 0.7-5.4% (v/w), was examined by GC/MS. Among the identified components, beta-asarone (62.3-75.9%), alpha-asarone (2.2-6.1%), Z-isoelemicin (2.4-6.2%), Z-methyl isoeugenol (2.3-6.4%) and shyobunone (1.5-5.3%) were found to be the major ones. The antioxidant activity of different essential oils was compared to that of standard antioxidants to assess their free radical scavenging potential, metal chelating ability, and reducing power. The essential oils exhibited significant in vitro antioxidant activity. The IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating, and reducing ability exhibited by the rhizomes essential oils were observed between 22.28- 61.96 mu g/mL, 29.55-159.26 mu g/mL, and 21.41-61.19 mu g/mL, respectively. Based on the above observations, the chemical diversity of A. calamus essential oil can be a good source of herbal nutraceuticals and phenylpropanoids. The possible mode of action and structure-activity relationship between major compounds of essential oils and proteins of antioxidant activity were studied using in-silico molecular docking and were found to support the in-vitro results.

The present study focussed on phytochemical analysis of Zingiber roseum through GC & GC-MS, antifungal and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts of seed, rhizome and perianth of the plant. GC-MS analysis was done by using GC MS-QP 2010 Plus equipment revealed diverse chemical make-up of the constituents. Among identified constituents ascorbic acid 2, 6-dihexadecanoate, 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethoxy-4h-chromen-4-one, hexadecanoic acid metyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z) and β-citronellal were found as major compounds in methanolic extracts from seeds, rhizome and petals respectively. The antifungal activity was done by disc diffusion methods for which extracts were tested against Fusarium accuminata. Among them the extracts were found to be remarkable fungicide according to its inhibition action against Fusarium accuminata. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, FRAP assay and metal chelating activity. The antioxidant assay revealed good to moderate antioxidant potential with different IC50 values with respect to Fe3+ reducing power (200.34-438.79 μg/ml), Fe2+ metal chelating ability (310.80-469.69 μg/ml) and DPPH anion scavenging activities (215.99-884.40 μg/ml) in comparison to known standards. Based on present findings it has been concluded that this herb can be a good source to develop a safe, eco-friendly and sustainable natural, food preservative.

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.

The objective of present study was to analyze the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of hexane extract from different plant parts of Zingiber chrysanthum Rosc. GC/MS analysis revealed the vast chemical diversity with geranyl linalool as major constituent which varied quantitatively in different parts like rhizomes (27.8%), seed (40.3%) and perianth (3.8%) along with other minor mono and sesquiterpenoids. The antioxidant activity of the hexane extracts was measured by their ability to scavenge free radicals, metal chelating and reducing power. The antioxidant of the extracts was found to have positive correlation with the total phenolic content of the extracts while IC50 values exhibited negative correlation. The total phenolic contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method using gallic acid as the standard. Among the extracts under study exhibited dose dependent antioxidant potential however DPPH radical scavenging activity was found maximum in with IC50 value 187.93±0.75 μg/ml and negative correlation (-0.788) with phenols. Based on these data, it can be concluded that this medicinally important traditionally herb may be a good source of industrially important phytochemicals like geranyl linalool and natural antioxidant.

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 present study describes antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts from Acorus calamus (Araceae) rhizomes.The antioxidant potential of methanolic extracts were determined by in vitro antioxidant screening models viz.DPPH radical scavenging activity, reductive ability and metal chelating activity along with the estimation of total phenolics, flavonoids and ortho-dihydroxy contents.The total phenolic, flavonoid and ortho-dihydroxy contents estimated ranged from 1.67 ± 0.288 to10.42 ± 0.180 mg/g gallic acid, 0.50 ± 0.053 to 24.50 ± 0.322 mg/g catechin and 0.43 ± 0.145 to 5.50 ± 0.552 mg/g catechol, respectively among different locations.Sample 7 th was found best for antioxidant activity (reducing power 119.42 ± 0.630 µg/mL and DPPH 143.35 ± 0.74 µg/mL).The antioxidant activity of the extracts were found to be positively correlated with phenolic content.However IC50 value exhibited negative correlation resulting A. calamus is a possible potential source of natural antioxidant.