Plant-Derived Terpenoids: A Plethora of Bioactive Compounds with Several Health Functions and Industrial...

Area of Science:

• Plant biochemistry and natural product chemistry.
• Metabolomics and biosynthetic pathway analysis.
• Pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.

Background:

• Terpenoids are a vast class of plant-derived secondary metabolites with diverse structures and significant biological activities.
• These compounds play crucial roles in plant growth and development.
• Their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties make them valuable for various industries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of terpenoids, focusing on recent advances in their metabolic pathways.
• To detail the biological properties and health-promoting effects of plant-derived terpenoids.
• To discuss their potential industrial applications and sustainable extraction methods.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific papers published between 2010 and 2024.
• Searches conducted using keywords like "terpenoids" in databases such as PubMed and the National Library of Medicine.
• Inclusion criteria focused on scientific reliability, completeness, and relevance.

Main Results:

• Terpenoids exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects.
• Understanding of terpenoid metabolic pathway organization, regulation, and diversification has advanced significantly.
• Plant-derived terpenoids represent a sustainable source of bioactive compounds with broad therapeutic and industrial potential.

Conclusions:

• Terpenoids are crucial plant metabolites with significant health benefits and diverse industrial applications.
• Further research into their biosynthesis and extraction can unlock their full potential.
• Emerging green extraction methods offer sustainable approaches for obtaining these valuable compounds.