Home > Secondary metabolite
Secondary metabolites, also known as natural products, are those products (chemical compounds) of metabolism that are not essential for normal growth, development or reproduction of the plant or organism. In this sense they are "secondary".The function or importance of these compounds to the organism's development is usually of ecological nature as they are used as defence against predators ( herbivores, pathogens etc.), for interspecies competition, and to facilitate the reproductive processes.
Contrary to primary metabolites these compounds are not ubiquitous in the living organisms who produce them nor are they expressed continuously.
Although plants are better known as a source of secondary metabolites also bacteria, fungi and many marine organisms (sponges, tunicates, corals, snails) are very interesting sources too.
Secondary metabolites can be classified by their chemical structure or physical properties into one or more of the following groups: alkaloids, terpenoids, polyketides, aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic organic acids, phenolsPhenols sometimes called phenolics are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol (CHOH). Although similar to alcohols, phenols have unique p, iridoid s, steroidIn chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. Hundreds of distinct steroids have been identified in plants and animals. Their most important role in most living systems is as hormones.s, saponins, peptidePeptides are the family of molecules formed from the linking, in a defined order, of various amino acids. The link between one amino acid residue and the next is an amide bond, and is sometimes referred to as a peptide bond. An amide bond is somewhat shors, ethereal oil s, resinResin is a hydrocarbon secretion formed in special resin canals of many plants, from many of which (for example, coniferous trees) it is exuded in soft drops from wounds, hardening into solid masses in the air. It may be obtained by making incisions in ths and balsamBalsam is a term used for various pleasantly scented plant products. They may be obtained from: Balsam (flower) Impatiens Balsam fir Abies balsamea Balsam poplars Populus spp.s.
List of most important secondary metabolites of plants:
- Class Alkaloids:
- HyoscyamineHyoscyamine is a chemical compound, a tropane alkaloid it is the levo- isomer to atropine. It is part of the Secondary metabolites of plants. It is used in medicine under a number of brand names but also as a generic compund. It is used to provide symptom, present in Datura stramoniumDatura stramonium is the name of a poisonous weed, sometimes used as a hallucinogen. Commonly called Thorn Apple . Datura stramonium is classified as a deleriant, or an anticholinergic. In the US it is, however, called Jimson Weed stinkweed (because of it
- Atropine, present in Atropa belladonna, Deadly nightshade
- Cocaine, present in Erythroxylon coca the Coca plant
-
- Class Terpenoids:
- Class Aliphatic, Aromatic and Heteroaromatic organic acids:
- Class Polyketides:
- Class Phenols:
- Class Iridoids:
- Class Steroids:
- Class Volatile oils, Resins and Balsams:
- Class Saponins:
Plant physiology
