The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and phenolic profile of Litsea glutinosa bark which grows in the natural climate of Azad Kashmir. The phenolic compositions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) while antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH assay, lipid peroxidation assay, metal chelation and total antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdenum assay. HPLC analysis resulted in the identification of gallic acid, caffeic acid and quercetin. The extract showed high antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay (IC_50, 23.1 ± 2.1 µg/ml). The aqueous extract showed its potential to inhibit the TBARS production and brought down the lipid peroxidation in egg yolk phospholipid. The chelating ability of the extract was confirmed by iron chelation assay while, reducing abilities were observed on the phosphomolybdenum assay. It is concluded that extracts obtained from bark of Litsea glutinosa from the Kashmir flora have high potential to be utilized as antioxidants due to their rich phenolic compositions.

Key words: Litsea glutinosa, antioxidant activity, HPLC analysis, phenolics, flavonoids.