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Primary metabolism in a plant comprises all metabolic pathways that are essential to the plant's survival. Primary metabolites are compounds that are directly involved in the growth and development of a plant whereas secondary metabolites are compounds produced in other metabolic pathways that, although important, are not essential to the functioning of the plant.
Plants are capable of producing and synthesizing diverse groups of organic compounds and are divided into two major groups: primary and secondary metabolites. [9] Secondary metabolites are metabolic intermediates or products which are not essential to growth and life of the producing plants but rather required for interaction of plants with their environment and produced in response to stress.
These molecules are sometimes produced by specialized cells, such as laticifers in plants. [1] Secondary metabolites commonly mediate antagonistic interactions, such as competition and predation, as well as mutualistic ones such as pollination and resource mutualisms. Examples of secondary metabolites include antibiotics, pigments and scents.
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They are the largest class of plant secondary metabolites, representing about 60% of known natural products. [3] Many terpenoids have substantial pharmacological bioactivity and are therefore of interest to medicinal chemists. [4] Plant terpenoids are used for their aromatic qualities and play a role in traditional herbal remedies.
Flavonoids are secondary metabolites synthesized mainly by plants. The general structure of flavonoids is a fifteen-carbon skeleton, containing two benzene rings connected by a three-carbon linking chain. [1] Therefore, they are depicted as C6-C3-C6 compounds.
The original concept developed by Hans Molisch in 1937 seemed focused only on interactions between plants, between microorganisms and between microorganisms and plants. [1] Allelochemicals are a subset of secondary metabolites, [2] which are not directly required for metabolism (i.e. growth, development and reproduction) of the allelopathic ...
Examples of common secondary metabolites used as chemical defenses by plants include alkaloids, phenols, and terpenes. [21] Defensive chemicals used to avoid consumption may be broadly characterized as either toxins or substances reducing the digestive capacity of herbivores.