ABSTRACT

Secondary metabolites include a wide variety of organic compounds which are not directly involved in plant physiological and biochemical processes of normal growth and development. These metabolites are also known as natural products, accumulated often in plants acclimatized to stresses, since they help in overcoming stress conditions. Secondary metabolites appear to function primarily in defense against predators 346and pathogens and in providing reproductive advantage—attractants of pollinators and seed dispersers. Plants are capable of synthesizing an overwhelming variety of small organic molecules, called secondary metabolites, usually with very complex and unique carbon skeleton structures, with many of them having high interests to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. These compounds are an extremely diverse group of natural products synthesized by plants as well as fungi, bacteria, algae, and animals. They may act to create competitive advantage as poisons of rival species. Secondary metabolites are used in the pharmaceutical industry as flavorants, dyes, and perfumery. Further, the secondary metabolism is an integral part of the developmental program of plants, and in accumulation of which it often marks the onset of developmental stages. This mini review article summarizes the role of different stress factors, including abiotic ones, particularly on secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals in plants.