Plant terpenes: defense responses, phylogenetic analysis, regulation and clinical applications

Abstract

The terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural products and many interesting products are extensively applied in the industrial sector as flavors, fragrances, spices and are also used in perfumery and cosmetics. Many terpenoids have biological activities and also used for medical purposes. In higher plants, the conventional acetate-mevalonic acid pathway operates mainly in the cytosol and mitochondria and synthesizes sterols, sesquiterpenes and ubiquinones mainly. In the plastid, the non-mevalonic acid pathway takes place and synthesizes hemi-, mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes along with carotenoids and phytol tail of chlorophyll. In this review paper, recent developments in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, indepth description of terpene synthases and their phylogenetic analysis, regulation of terpene biosynthesis as well as updates of terpenes which have entered in the clinical studies are reviewed thoroughly.

Volatile terpenoids: multiple functions, biosynthesis, modulation and manipulation by genetic engineering

“…Similarly, terpenes fine important use as methanol, cleaners, solvents, camphor, antiallergenic agents, pyrethrins (insecticides), limonene, rosin, nepetalactone (in catnip), digitoxigenin, carvone and hecogenin (a detergent) Thimmappa et al 2014). The antimicrobial activity of terpenoids is the most significant because of the drastic increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, which is a growing cause of concern globally (Islam et al 2003;Singh and Sharma 2015). In livestock, the addition of terpenes can replace conventional antibiotics, as they can slow down the resistance of bacteria against antibiotics.…”

“…Plant oils that included terpenes in their composition showed promising in vivo bactericidal activity. Terpenoids also play key roles in the clinical industry (Singh and Sharma 2015). Prabuseenivasan et al (2006) proved that cinnamon oil showed a broad range of activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.…”

“Nature, green in leaf and stem”. Research on plants with medicinal properties in Suriname

“…The largest groups of secondary metabolites are nitrogen-containing compounds (including alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, glucosinolates, and benzoxazinoids; [16]), terpenoids (including mono-and sesequiterpenoids, glycosides, and saponins; [17]), and phenolics (including flavonoids, anthocyanins, phytoalexins, and tannins; [18]). Many of these compounds act as repellents or toxins to herbivores or reduce plant digestibility [16][17][18].…”

Why Do Honeybees Exploit so Few Plant Species as Propolis Sources?

“…Among secondary plant metabolites, phenolic compounds are widely known to have antimicrobial activity [18]. Another class of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity is represented by terpenoids [19]. Most types of propolis, including the two most commercialized types (temperate and Brazilian green propolis), have high contents of phenolic compounds.…”