The diversity of the phytochemical array in unexplored high altitude medicinal plant Gonostegia hirta (Blume. ex Hassk.) Miq.

Abstract

Nature can be considered as vast and diverse laboratory with an intricate mechanism that allows it to exhibit its remarkable qualities in unique and fascinating ways. One example is medicinal plants that grow in nature and have been used for centuries to cure various ailments. This study focuses on one of the unexplored plants, Gonostegia hirta, a medicinal herb grown in three regions of high altitude across the Indian subcontinent. The study aims to understand the phytochemical array in this plant and how it varies in different regions. To achieve this goal, we used LC-MS/MS (QTOF) to analyse the methanolic extracts of the plant samples from the three locations. The findings of the study revealed that the plants grown in Itanagar were highly populated with diverse phytochemicals, with a rich presence of some of the most potent phytocompounds like retronecine, heliotrine, zapotin, and moxestrol. This indicates that natural variations, such as climate and soil characteristics, significantly influence the phytochemical diversity of medicinal herbs. Overall, this study sheds new light on the incredible diversity of nature and its potential to provide us with valuable resources to improve our health and well-being.