411 Article Info Article history Received 16 August 2022 Revised 9 October 2022 Accepted 10 October 2022 Published Online 30 December-2022 Keywords Antioxidant activity Cytotoxicity Phytochemicals Pleurospermum angelicoides (DC.) Benth. ex C.B. Clarke Zantholxylum armatum DC. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and in vitro cytotoxicity study of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and Pleurospermum angelicoides (DC.) Benth. ex C.B. Clarke : Important medicinal plants of the upper Himalayan region Amol Gurav*,  Siddharth Gautam, A.P. Madhusoodan, N.S. Kharayat, Nidhi Sharma and M.A. Ramakrishanan ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-263138, Nainital, UK, India. Abstract Medicinal plants are gaining immense importance due to the therapeutic potential of various phytocompounds present in them. These compounds are phytochemicals like alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenes, saponins, lignins, phytosterols, tannins, aldehydes, proteins, fatty acids, glycosides, coumarins, etc . The present investigation aimed to screen the Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and Pleurospermum angelicoides (DC.) Benth. ex C.B. Clarke for the qualitative and quantitative presence of different phytochemicals in them. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Z. armatum (fruit kernel and seed) and P. angelicoides (roots) were screened using qualitative tests for flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, aldehyde, phytosterols, phenols along with quantitative assays for total phenolic and flavonoids content, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) and ascorbate - iron (III) - catalyzed phospholipid peroxidation (AICPP) activity. An aqueous extract of Z. armatum (fruit kernel) revealed a stronger reaction for the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and phytosterols. Alkaloids and aldehydes were reported to be present in seeds of Z. armatum. P. angelicoides observed strong reactions for alkaloids and saponin's presence. Total phenol and flavonoid content of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Z. armatum (fruit kernel) were 33.24 ± 1.98 TPC (mg GAE/g extract), 33.09 ±.35 TPC (mg GAE/g extract), 5.43 ± 0.46 TFC (mg CE/g extract) and 4.47 ± 0.77 TFC (mg CE/g extract), respectively. Per cent inhibition activity of AICPP was reported to be 66.97 ± 5.76 and 45.71 ± 10.53, per cent in both the extracts of fruit kernel of Z. armatum whereas, 37.27 ± 4.34 and 67.35 ± 4.47 per cent inhibition activities were reported in both extracts of P. angelicoides, respectively. Highest FRAP activity of 0.362 ± 0.01 (mmol Fe 2+ /gm extract), followed by 0.116 ± 0.005 (mmol Fe 2+ /gm extract) was reported in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Z. armatum. The ethanolic fraction of P. angelicoides was found safer among all the extracts in the cytotoxicity study. Copyright © 2022 Ukaaz Publications. All rights reserved. Email: ukaaz@yahoo.com; Website: www.ukaazpublications.com Annals of Phytomedicine 11(2): 411-420, 2022 Annals of Phytomedicine: An International Journal http://www.ukaazpublications.com/publications/index.php Print ISSN : 2278-9839 Online ISSN : 2393-9885 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.54085/ap.2022.11.2.50 Corresponding author: Dr. Amol Gurav Scientist, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar- 263138, Nainital, UK, India E-mail: amolvetmed.10@gmail.com Tel.: +91-9760214814 Original Article : Open Access 1. Introduction The Indian Himalaya region (IHR) is a home tract for more than 8000 vascular plants (Singh and Hajra, 1996), out of these, 1748 are reported to have known medicinal values (Samant et al., 1998). The Himalayan region is the hotspot of various medicinal or herbal plants which serves the medicinal and food requirements of local tribal inhabitants of the Himalayas. Traditional medicines are used above 60 per cent population of the world (Ballabh and Chaurasia, 2007). Medicinal plants are gaining importance for the treatment and management of various diseases in humans and animals due to their low cost, ease of availability and lesser side effects. Phytochemicals are secondary plant metabolites that are biologically active and provide health benefits (Hasler and Blumberg, 1999). They are protecting the plants either from disease or external traumas. Phytochemicals are responsible for color, flavor and aroma development in plants. These secondary plant metabolites in general give protection against physical hazards like-UV exposure, insect attack, pollutants, biotic or a biotic stresses and drought conditions (Mathai, 2000 ; Gibson et al., 1998). Besides these, phytochemicals have immense importance in the treatment of various chronic diseases like cancer and liver and heart diseases. Phytochemicals have multiple therapeutic uses in humans and animals, against various disease conditions. Z. armatum is an evergreen, tiny, sub-deciduous, and spiny tree, commonly found in the valleys of the Himalayas, the north-east part of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The vernacular names of the plant are: Indian prickly ash, Winged prickly ash, Timur and Timru. This plant is being used by local herbal therapists against several diseases without having any side effects. The fruits and seeds of the Timur are being used as remedies against fever, dyspepsia and parasitic diseases (Kalia et al., 1999). P. angelicoides (Local name: Gandrani, Gandrayani, Chipi) is an important medicinal plant of the upper Himalayan region. It belongs to the family Apiaceae. Roots of Gandrani are being used as flavoring agent during food preparation in the Uttarakhand region. Decoction of root, along with cumin,