ABSTRACT
Phytochemistry is the study of the chemicals produced by plants, particularly the secondary metabolites, synthesized as a measure for self-defense 4against insects, pests, pathogens, herbivores, ultraviolet exposure and environmental hazards. Phytochemistry takes into account the structural compositions of these metabolites, the biosynthetic pathways, functions, mechanisms of actions in the living systems as well as it’s medicinal, industrial, and commercial applications. The proper understanding of phytochemical is essential for drug discovery and for the development of novel therapeutic agents against major diseases. This chapter introduces phytochemistry, discusses the history of modern phytochemistry, the relationship of phytochemistry with other sciences and the importance of phytochemistry. It also provides information on the sources and classification of phytochemicals, prospects for phytochemists, the usefulness of computational phytochemistry, biostatistics and the advances in phytochemical research.
Keywords: Phytochemistry, Phytochemicals, Terpenes, Flavonoids, Alkaloids
