Phytochemistry is a foundational discipline within plant sciences, concerned with the identification, characterization, biosynthesis, and biological activities of plant-derived chemical compounds. Plants synthesize a remarkable diversity of metabolites, many of which are not directly involved in growth and development but serve ecological functions such as defence, signalling, and adaptation. These so-called secondary metabolites— including alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids, and glycosides—have attracted sustained scientific interest due to their therapeutic, nutritional, and industrial value