CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND GC-MS PROFILING OF THE STEM OF SYZYGIUM TAMILNADENSE (RATHAKR. & CHITRA), AN ENDEMIC SPECIES OF THE WESTERN GHATS, NILGIRIS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Plants have evolved to produce a vast array of natural compounds with significant health-promoting properties. Medicinal plants remain crucial resources for contemporary drug discovery and development. This study presents the first scientific investigation into the medicinal potential of Syzygium tamilnadense (Rathakr & Chitra), a rare and endemic species of the Myrtaceae family native to the Sholur–Nanjanad Reserve Forests in the Nilgiri Biosphere, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. Various solvent extracts were prepared, with ethanol yielding the highest concentration of phytochemicals. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, catechins, coumarins, glycosides, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, sugars, and xanthoproteins compounds known for their diverse pharmacological activities. Quantitative analysis showed high contents of total phenolics (128.14±0.76mg GAE/g), flavonoids (44.20±0.28mg QE/g), and tannins (38.26 ± 0.48 mg QAE/g), indicating strong antioxidant capacity. Gas Chromatography– Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis identified 25 bioactive compounds, including caryophyllene oxide, neophytadiene, squalene, phytol, and linoleic acid ethyl ester, which are associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. These findings highlight S. tamilnadense as novel and valuable source of pharmacologically active phytoconstituents, validating its traditional use and underscoring its potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.