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Eichhornia crassipes is an invasive aquatic plant whose individual morphological parts like roots and shoots were studied using different solvent extracts namely, benzene water and ethanol. All the solvent extracts of the root and shoot portions of the fresh Eichhornia crassipes were screened for the presence of various phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, sterols, terpenoids, anthraquinones, and anthocyanins. The isolation and purification of the major bioactive compounds such as tannins and flavonoids were done by thin layer chromatography using the extract purified from column chromatography. The results from the Gas Chromatography showed the retention of many important phenolic and sterol based compounds, denoting their richness of bioactive compounds useful for pharmaceutical industries as drugs and environmental sectors thereby protecting the aquatic micro ecosystem.

Elaeocarpus variabilis, a highly endemic plant to the Nilgiris belonging to the family of Rudraksha owns a whole lot of phytochemical properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer activity. Despite its enormous properties, it is one of the unexplored herb available locally. The seeds showed such immense properties and the identification of compounds responsible for these properties is a crucial part. Hence, the qualitative identification was carried out using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and normalization of the appropriate solvent system for quantification by Preparative Thin Layer Chromatography and composition of the compounds present were investigated using High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results from HPTLC showed the presence of quercetin like compounds and further, structural elucidation of the active principle can be proceeded with Liquid Chromatography-Mass spectrometry (LCMS) and to determine the composition of the phytochemicals present.

Oxidative stress is the phenomenon by which the excessive production of free radicals and oxidants that cause detrimental effects to diseases and finally death. Plants are the rich source of antioxidants which have the potential to neutralize these reactive oxygen species,thereby preserving the redox equilibrium of the body. Western Ghats serves as anexcellent habitat for many endangered species of flora and a reservoir of edible source of food for many living beings. Some of the commonly available traditional plants like Ficus benghalensis, Psidium guajava, Beta vulgaris, Syzygium cumini were known to possess rich pharmacological properties. In the present study, we aim to evaluate and compare the in vitro antioxidant properties of the selected traditional medicinal plants using various radical scavenging and reducing capacity assays. Further, the structural elucidation of the presence of phytochemical compounds in the extract was carried out using Infrared (IR) spectra. The above investigation on the free radical scavenging properties and the determination of the functional groups of bioactive compounds may open up new interest on their applications in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.