Author(s): Anmol Singh, Anamika Dhami, Diksha Palariya, Om Prakash, Ravendra Kumar, Rishendra Kumar and AK Pant

Abstract: Methyl nonyl ketone also known as 2-undecanone (6.7 - 61.2%) and linalool (1.8 – 48.3%) were identified as major constituents, analyzed in the essential oils of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. an important medicinal plant from three different ecological niches of Uttarakhand Himalayas in India. The other major constituents in the essential oils were sylvestrene, monomethyl cinnamate, 2- tridecanone, E-caryophyllene, vinyl decanoate, phytol, caryophyllene oxide, etc. The essential oils exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 13.68±0.35 to 29.67±0.95 µL. The in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity with observed IB50 values ranging from 21.56±0.08 to 27.64±0.03 µL has also been found in the essentials, besides moderate anti-bacterial activity. The observed biological potential and diversified chemical makeup of essential oils besides the commercially and biologically important major compounds, it can be inferred that this medicinally important indigenous shrub may be a good source of important phytochemicals like methyl nonyl ketone, cosmetically important linalool for the development of herbal nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.