The present study aimed at determining the antioxidant action of a five species of wild Himalayan berries, determination of the total flavonoid content and fractionation of the phenolic components from the extract. Successive solvent extraction in hexane, petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water were carried out by hot continuous extraction method. 25 extracts were obtained and screened for phytochemical class present in them. The total flavonoid content of the extracts was determined and the antioxidant action was assayed using ABTS radical scavenging assay. The extracts were fractionated to obtain the phenolic isolates; the yield and TFC of the isolates was studied. The extractibles were lowest in the hexane and aqueous extracts in all plants except Rubus niveus. High amounts of flavonoids in 23 of the 25 extracts and phenolics in 20 extracts. The highest flavonoid content was found in VMM (7.490 QE mg/g) followed by VMW (5.068 QE mg/g) while the least flavonoids were present in RNC (0.482 QE mg/g). All the extracts except WBP, WBM, GBH, GBC, REH, REC, and RNC exhibited more than 50% inhibition of the ABTS radical cation suggesting significant antioxidant activity. Fractions eluted with methanol-chloroform (10-90 & 20-80) contained the phenolics with highest yield of phenolic content in REP 10 (93.42% phenolic content).

Antioxidant, Phenolic, ABTS radical, Ascorbic acid, berries