Guide to secondary metabolites

This book presents a comprehensive study of secondary metabolites in plants highlighting their definition ecological roles and multiple applications. Unlike primary metabolites which are essential for growth and development secondary metabolites perform adaptive and vital functions that help plants defend themselves communicate and interact with their environment.The book concludes with an overview of the medical industrial and agricultural applications of secondary metabolites. They are fundamental sources for many drugs (such as morphine aspirin taxol) contribute to the food industry (flavorings colorants) cosmetic and pharmaceutical products and play an increasingly important role in sustainable agriculture through biopesticides and natural defense mechanisms.