Journal of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology
Research Article
GC–MS Phytochemical Profiling and Nutritional Evaluation of Myrica esculenta from Narayan Nagar, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India
Prasad K1*, Kumar R2, Singh T3 and Kumari P1
1.Department of Chemistry, Sant Narayan Swamy Government
Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh,
Uttarakhand, India.
2.Department of Zoology, Sant Narayan Swamy Government Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India.
3.Department of Botany, Sant Narayan Swamy Government Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India.
2.Department of Zoology, Sant Narayan Swamy Government Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India.
3.Department of Botany, Sant Narayan Swamy Government Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India.
Address for Correspondence:Prasad K, Department of Chemistry, Sant Narayan Swamy
Government Post Graduate College Narayan Nagar, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India.
Email Id: drkundanprasad@gpgcnarayannagar.ac.in
Submission: 26 June 2026
Accepted: 29 July 2026
Published: 31 July 2026
Copyright: ©2025 Prasad K. This is an open access article distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided
the original work is properly cited.
Keywords:GC-MS, Biochemical; phytochemicals and Minerals; Myrica
esculenta
Abstract
Background:Kafal (Myrica esculenta) is an economically
valuable wild fruit species native to the Kumaun Himalaya, where it
plays a significant role in sustaining the livelihoods of forest-dependent
communities. The fruits command a favorable market price, and their
seasonal harvesting and marketing constitute an important source of
household income for rural populations.
Methods:The aerial parts of Myrica esculenta (leaves and stems) were subjected to hydrodistillation for 12 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus for the extraction of essential oil. The mineral content of the plant material was determined after wet acid digestion using standard analytical procedures.
Results:A total of sixty-eight compounds were identified constituting 90.71% of the total oil. The main compounds were Caryophyllene (23.34), Linalool (8.23), Caryophyllene Oxide (6.15), 1-Hexanol (5.54), 3-hexen-1-ol (5.49), Isogermacrene D (3.17), γ-Muurolene (3.11) and δ-Cadinene (2.86). Nutrient contents are was found to Carbohydrate 16.24±0.55mg.100 g-1, Protein 5.28±0.16 and Fat were 7.37±0.14 on a dry weight basis. Overall, the fruit of M. esculenta contains high levels of moisture, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, as well as exceptionally high amounts of vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and potassium.
Conclusion:The findings of the present study indicate that the aerial parts (leaves and stems) of Myrica esculenta represent a valuable source of essential oil, whereas the dried fruits possess high levels of minerals and bioactive phytochemicals. Collectively, these results underscore the potential of M. esculenta as a multifunctional natural resource for applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food sectors.
Methods:The aerial parts of Myrica esculenta (leaves and stems) were subjected to hydrodistillation for 12 h using a Clevenger-type apparatus for the extraction of essential oil. The mineral content of the plant material was determined after wet acid digestion using standard analytical procedures.
Results:A total of sixty-eight compounds were identified constituting 90.71% of the total oil. The main compounds were Caryophyllene (23.34), Linalool (8.23), Caryophyllene Oxide (6.15), 1-Hexanol (5.54), 3-hexen-1-ol (5.49), Isogermacrene D (3.17), γ-Muurolene (3.11) and δ-Cadinene (2.86). Nutrient contents are was found to Carbohydrate 16.24±0.55mg.100 g-1, Protein 5.28±0.16 and Fat were 7.37±0.14 on a dry weight basis. Overall, the fruit of M. esculenta contains high levels of moisture, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, as well as exceptionally high amounts of vitamin C, phenolic compounds, and potassium.
Conclusion:The findings of the present study indicate that the aerial parts (leaves and stems) of Myrica esculenta represent a valuable source of essential oil, whereas the dried fruits possess high levels of minerals and bioactive phytochemicals. Collectively, these results underscore the potential of M. esculenta as a multifunctional natural resource for applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food sectors.
Keywords:GC-MS, Biochemical; phytochemicals and Minerals; Myrica
esculenta