GC-MS analysis and phytochemical profiling of the methanolic extract of Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A. Jaeger from Mount Abu, India

The present investigation explores the phytochemical composition and bioactive potential of the methanolic extract of Hyophila involuta, a commonly occurring moss species in India. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was employed to characterize the volatile constituents of the extract, resulting in the identification of 37 compounds within a retention time range of [4.91–42.52 min]. The phytochemical profile revealed the predominance of terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and alkaloids. Among the identified constituents, [9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl Ester and 9-Octadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (E)-] was detected as a major compound based on its relative peak area. Several of the identified compounds were reported in the literature to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating the potential pharmacological relevance of H. involuta. The findings provide scientific insight into the medicinal significance of this bryophyte and establish a baseline phytochemical dataset for future quantitative and bioactivity-guided pharmacological investigations of H. involuta collected from Mount Abu, India.