Phytochemical characterization of Himalayan barberry (Berberis lycium) leaves

Berberis lycium Royle, commonly known as Himalayan barberry, is an important medicinal shrub traditionally used in the treatment of various ailments. The present study investigates the phytochemical composition of B lycium leaves using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Leaf samples collected from Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, were subjected to Soxhlet extraction using solvents of varying polarity: acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol. GC-MS profiling revealed a diverse phytochemical spectrum comprising polyketides, terpenoids, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, phenolics, phytosterols, vitamins and lipids. Ethyl acetate extract was rich in nonacosan-10-ol, phytol derivatives and tocopherols, while acetone extract predominantly contained γ-sitosterol, phenolics and hydrocarbons. Methanol extract exhibited high levels of polyketides, phytol, phytosterols and fatty acid derivatives. Several compounds such as phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, lipids and lignans were documented, some of which are reported for the first time from B lycium leaves. The presence of these biologically active constituents highlights the therapeutic potential of the species and underscores its value for further pharmacological, biochemical and isolation studies.