Plant secondary metabolite

A compound produced by a plant that is not directly required for basic growth or reproduction, often affecting interactions with other organisms or the environment.

Alkaloid: A nitrogen-containing natural product that often has strong effects on animals or other organisms. Many plant secondary metabolites are alkaloids that deter herbivores or affect their physiology.
Plant secondary metabolism: The network of plant biochemical pathways that produces specialized compounds beyond core metabolism. It is the pathway system that generates plant secondary metabolites.
Morphine: A potent opioid alkaloid found in opium poppy and used medically to relieve severe pain. It is a plant alkaloid whose physiological effects became a major medical application.
Primary metabolite: A compound directly involved in an organism’s growth, development, or reproduction. This is the contrasting category for compounds not directly required for those basic functions.
Terpenoid: A natural product built from isoprene-derived units, including compounds with diverse structures and functions. Terpenoids form the largest and most structurally varied family of plant secondary metabolites.
Shikimate pathway: A metabolic pathway that produces aromatic amino acids and other precursors in plants, fungi, and microorganisms. It supplies precursors for many plant phenolics and alkaloids.
Quinine: An alkaloid from cinchona bark used to prevent and treat malaria. It is a notable medicinal use of a plant-produced defensive compound.
Primary metabolism: The interconnected biochemical pathways that sustain basic cellular functions and growth. Its conserved functions distinguish it from specialized pathways producing many plant secondary metabolites.
Phenolic compound: A compound containing one or more hydroxylated aromatic rings, common in plants and other organisms. Plant phenolics include pigments, antioxidants, and compounds that defend against stress.
Methylerythritol phosphate pathway: A plastid-localized pathway that synthesizes isoprenoid precursors from central metabolites. It supplies building blocks for many plant terpenoids.

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