Objective: The present study aims pharmacognostic investigations and antioxidant activity of Bombax ceiba leaf extracts. Materials and Methods: The materials and methods for standardization parameters were performed by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by taking ascorbic acid as standard, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results: The results of qualitative phytochemical screening of Bombax ceiba aerial part extracts showed the presence of important phytochemical compounds, namely, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic compounds. The results of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of different Bombax ceiba leaf extracts showed the highest TPC and TFC for pet. ether extract and the free radical scavenging activity of extracts is in concentration gradient. Conclusion: It is concluded that Bombax ceiba leaf extracts have a rich profile of phytochemicals with significant proximate composition and good antioxidant activity. The findings indicate that Bombax ceiba leaf extract can be taken as an initiative step for finding out the promising agents responsible for its phytochemical and antioxidant activities and could be an important source of natural compounds for the development of new drug.

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Objective: Evaluation of anti-arthritic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Amaranthus roxburghianus Nevski aerial parts in albino Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: A. roxburghianus dried aerial parts were extracted with ethyl alcohol: water (70:30) ratio, respectively, by the hot Soxhlet method. Hydroalcoholic A. roxburghianus extract (HARE) was further concentrated to obtain a semisolid residue. Two doses 200 and 400 mg/kg of HARE were tested against formaldehyde-induced acute non-immunological and Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced chronic immunological arthritis in albino Wistar rats. Arthritis assessment was done by morphological studies (paw volume, paw diameter, and body wt.) and hematological parameters radiological, histopathological, and organ wt. studies were also done on the 28th day after animals were sacrificed. Results: Dose-dependent and significant inhibition of edema were observed in both acute as well as chronic models. The extract at dose 400 mg/kg showed most potent and significant (p<0.05) paw edema inhibition which is supported by the results of paw volume and diameter, hematological parameters, in FCA-induced arthritis model. Treatment with HARE also decreased the histopathological alterations induced by FCA model. Conclusion: HARE protects synovial membrane by improving the health status exhibits promising anti-arthritic activity. This finding thus supports the traditional use of A. roxburghianus for arthritis. However, further studies are needed to carry out the isolation of active constituents of the fraction responsible for the activity.