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Terpenes are also components of some traditional medicines, such as aromatherapy. [24] Reflecting their defensive role in plants, terpenes are used as active ingredients of pesticides in agriculture. [25] Tetrahydrocannabinol, a terpenoid, not a terpene, is the active ingredient in marijuana.
While sometimes used interchangeably with "terpenes", terpenoids contain additional functional groups, usually containing oxygen. [1] When combined with the hydrocarbon terpenes, terpenoids comprise about 80,000 compounds. [2] They are the largest class of plant secondary metabolites, representing about 60% of known natural products. [3]
A terpene is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon based on combinations of the isoprene unit. Terpenoids are compounds related to terpenes, which may include some oxygen functionality or some rearrangement, however the two terms are often used interchangeably.
What are terpenes? If you’ve never heard of terpenes, you’d be surprised to know they’re everywhere in your daily life. Terpenes, “terps” for short, are pungent compounds that plants ...
Several diterpenes are produced by plants and cyanobacteria. GGPP is also the precursor for the synthesis of the phytane by the action of the enzyme geranylgeranyl reductase. This compound is used for the biosynthesis of tocopherols and the phytyl functional group is used in the formation of chlorophyll a, ubiquinones, plastoquinone and ...
Many monoterpenes are volatile compounds and some of them are well-known fragrants found in the essential oils of many plants. [12] For example, camphor, citral, citronellol, geraniol, grapefruit mercaptan, eucalyptol, ocimene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, menthol, camphene and pinenes are used in perfumes and cosmetic products.
In the Latin names for plants created by Linnaeus, the word officinalis indicates that a plant was used in this way. For example, the marsh mallow has the classification Althaea officinalis, as it was traditionally used as an emollient to soothe ulcers. [2] Pharmacognosy is the study of plant sources of phytochemicals.
Carotenoids have important biological functions, with roles in light capture, antioxidative activity and protection against free radicals, synthesis of plant hormones and as structural components of the membranes. Aside their biological relevance, carotenoids are also high-value compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industries.