Phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity and GC-MS analysis of Syzygium diospyrifolium (Wall.Ex Duthie) S.N. Mitra: A medicinal plant from Meghalaya, India

Background: Syzygium diospyrifolium (Wall.ex Duthie) S.N. Mitra is a traditionally valued but underexplored medicinal plant from Meghalaya, India. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and GC–MS profile of its fruit and leaf extracts to explore their therapeutic prospects. Methods: Methanol and ethanol extracts of the fruits and leaves were prepared using a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. Percentage yields were determined, and qualitative phytochemical screening identified secondary metabolites. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were quantified spectrophotometrically, while antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays. GC–MS analysis identified bioactive compounds. All experiments were performed in triplicate (n=3), and results were expressed as mean ± SD with significance at p < 0.05 (Student’s t-test). Results: Methanol extracts yielded higher percentages (fruit: 15.2% w/w; leaf: 14.4% w/w) than ethanol extracts. Both extracts contained alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, proteins, amino acids, and diterpenes. Fruits exhibited higher TPC (52.23 mg GAE/g) and TFC (152 mg QE/g) than leaves (26.96 mg GAE/g; 96.86 mg QE/g; p < 0.05). Antioxidant assays showed stronger activity in fruits (DPPH IC₅₀: 133.95 µg/mL) than leaves (215.11 µg/mL). GC–MS analysis identified sugars, fatty acid amides, sterols, terpenoids, and phenolic derivatives, including DL-Arabinose, D-Allose, and 13-Docosenamide (Z), reported for the first time. Conclusion: This first GC-MS-based phytochemical profiling of S. diospyrifolium (Wall.ex Duthie) S.N. Mitra reveals its fruits as rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds with significant antioxidant potential, supporting its promise for nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical applications