## 3 Discussion
### GC/MS Analysis
It also acts in plants by preventing water loss during drought periods [79]. The presence of \(S\)-methyl-2-propenethioate was detected in fresh leaves and represented the largest area in the crude extract sample. The thiol-ester group allows for fatty acid synthesis and acyl group transfer, which are essential in pharmaceuticals as they can alter absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), and release of the active compound, thereby improving biological activity [77]. The ethyl esters, ethyl dodecanoate derived from lauric acid and ethyl tetradecanoate derived from myristic acid, as well as ethyl 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylbutanoate, possess antifungal potential, typical of natural fatty acids [80]. In the case of ethyl 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylbutanoate, its use as an excipient in pharmaceuticals has also been described in the literature to reduce unpleasant tastes, thereby improving flavor and palatability in medicine [81]. In general, several components detected and investigated also exhibit this biological activity: octanal [82], heneicosane [83], hex-3-en-2,5-diol [84], 5-methyl-hexan-2-one [85], all associated with antifungal activity. These compounds have potential applications in the agroindustrial and pharmaceutical sectors. Additionally, regarding potential applications in the agroindustrial sector, hexanoic acid is noteworthy for its inhibitory activity against fungi that spoil fruits [86], as well as the volatile 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, which not only exhibits antifungal activity [87], but also has reported antioxidant [88] and larvicidal [89] activities. Nonanoic acid is commonly used as a herbicide and is also characterized by its antifungal action [90], which is recurrent in 2-butoxyethanol [91], dodecanal [92], and 6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-one [93]. Other detected substances exhibit potential for aromas and flavors, with applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. These include 2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-encarboxaldehyde and nona-3,6-dien-1-ol, which are used in creating aromatic profiles [94]. Ethyl 3-methyl-cyclopentene-1-one, for example, enhances the flavor in sweeteners [95], while \(\alpha\)-cis-3-hexenyl methylbutyrate is employed as a flavoring agent in pharmaceuticals [96]. The literature also points to the use of these substances in fragrance formulation for cosmetic products. 3-hexen-1-ol, found in high concentration in fresh leaves, is known for imparting a fresh aroma [97], and trans-\(\beta\)-ionone, which, in addition to its aroma, also exhibits antioxidant activity [98]. Additionally, 3-methyl-cyclopentano-1,2-dione shows limited inhibitory activity against the _Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ H37 Rv strain [99], while tetradecano exhibits antioxidant activity [100]. Two substances, 4,5-dimethyl-hept-2-en-3-ol and acetate of 10,13,13-trimethyl-tetrad-11-en-1-ol, have not yet been described for biological activities. Throughout this investigation, it was observed that the substances detected exhibit significant antifungal activity. This finding reinforces the potential of \(D\). _pubipetala_ as a promising source of bioactive compounds, potentially useful in the treatment and prevention of fungal infections, as well as in the control of phytopathogens. This is particularly relevant given that the most commonly used control methods involve agrochemical products, which in turn cause environmental damage and pose risks to human and animal health [101]. In humans, the high resistance capacity of fungi complicates treatment methods, and some medications exhibit toxicity, as is the case with those used to treat candidiasis [102]. The use of GC-MS-SPME enabled a comprehensive characterization of the volatile chemical profile of the extract, partitions, and fresh leaves of \(D\). _pubipetala_, which had not been previously investigated. Chromatographic analyses contributed to the distinction of substances across partitions, enabling the identification of both similar and dissimilar compounds among the samples.