Terpenoids as Natural Products and Secondary Metabolites
Secondary metabolites are natural products that often have an ecological role in regulating the
interactions between plants and their environment. They can be defensive substances, such as
phytoalexins and phytoanticipins, anti-feedants, attractants and pheromones [9]. The importance of
plant secondary metabolites in medicine, agriculture and industry has led to numerous studies on the
synthesis, biosynthesis and biological activity of these substances. It has been estimated that over 40%
of medicines have their origins in these active natural products [10]. A prominent group of natural
products are the terpenes and derivitized terpenoids