Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
Ashutosh Singh, Sharwan Kumar Shukla, Abhishek Kumar, Gaurav Sharma, Rakesh Kumar, Sundarpal, Prabhat Tiwari, Ashutosh Kumar, Anshuman Singh and AK Pandey

Abstract:
Plant secondary metabolites (SMs) play vital roles for the survival of plants in the open environmental condition. Plants are also providing diverse group of valuable natural products in the form of secondary plant products. The major roles of secondary metabolites produced by plants are protection against pathogenic agents and environmental stresses. Indeed, accumulation of secondary metabolites in the plant organs depends on the climatic factors such as light, soil, temperature, salinity and fertility of the soil. However, metabolites naturally synthesized by plants are very crucial for the living beings on the earth; particularly for the human beings in the form of bioactive compounds for the treatment of various kinds of diseases and other health benefits. Secondary metabolites produced by plants are used as drug, flavors, fragrance, insecticide and dyes of high economic value. Some metabolites synthesized by fungus and bacteria are involved in the resistance mechanism against various kinds of abiotic and biotic stresses. Emerging technologies in the field of plant science enhance the usefulness of higher plants as renewal source of phytochemical, especially medicinal drugs. Continuous efforts and exploitation of natural plant resources is expected to lead in the production of valuable secondary metabolites with medicinal importance.