The eastern Himalayas, one of the important hotspots of global biodiversity, have a rich diversity of wild edible fruit trees. The fruits of these tree species have been consumed by the tribal people since time immemorial. However, there is limited information available on the biochemical and antioxidant properties of the fruits. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to study the physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of the nine most important wild fruit trees. Among the species, Pyrus pashia had the maximum fruit weight (37.83 g), while the highest juice (43.72%) and pulp content (84.67%) were noted in Haematocarpus validus and Myrica esculenta, respectively. Maximum total soluble solids (18.27%), total sugar (11.27%), moisture content (88.39%), ascorbic acid content (63.82 mg/100 g), total carotenoids (18.47 mg/100 g), and total monomeric anthocyanin (354.04 mg/100 g) were recorded in H. validus. Docynia indica had the highest total phenolic content (19.37 mg GAE/g), while H. validus recorded the highest total flavonoids and flavanol content. The antioxidant activities of the different fruits ranged from 0.17 to 0.67 IC50 for DPPH activity and 3.59–13.82 mg AAE/g for FRAP. These fruits had attractive pigmentation of both pulp and juice and were a good potential source for the extraction of natural edible color in the food industry. The fruits also possess high market prices; Prunus nepalensis fetched $ 34.10–$ 141.5 per tree. Therefore, these fruits are rich sources of antioxidants, pigments and have a high market value for livelihood and nutritional security.

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Gloriosa superba Linn (family Colchicaceae) is a tendril climber with cylindrical and V or L shaped rhizomes that has received much attention due to its ancient pharmacological uses and being a rich source of colchicine. The pharmacognostical profile of leaf, stem and rhizome were analysed to assure the grade of raw material in the proposed investigation. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity of ethanolic rhizome extract of G. superba (EREG) was assessed using DPPH radical scavenging assay. Simultaneously, we have evaluated the phytochemical profile of EREG by GC-MS and total phenolic content was performed as well. Transverse section of rhizome revealed thin layer of brownish scales that fabricate the outer skin. In addition, the cortical area made up of homogeneous fleshy and parenchymal cells filled with starch granules which is one of the superabundant diagnostic features of this plant. Pharmacognostical profile of leaf, stem and rhizome of the plant demonstrated the evidence of authenticity of this plant. Anti-scavenging capacity (IC50) and total phenolic content was 77.20% and 9.54 mg, GAE/g, respectively. The GC-MS library identified two phytoconstituents as diethyl phthalate (100% peak area) and arsenous acid, tris(trimethylsilyl) ester (22.68% peak area) whose vast benefits are reported in the fields of pharmaceuticals, industry and personal care products. Frivolous research work in the field of pharmacognosy, antioxidant ability and instrumental analysis for phytomolecules provides a vast avenue for research on G. superba.

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