Page 47 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general
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Primary metabolites (food reserves or food storage products): they are
compounds commonly produced by all plants and directly involved in plant
growth and development. They include carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
Secondary metabolites (by-products of metabolism): they are
compounds produced in other metabolic pathways that, although
important, are not essential to the functioning of plants.
They are used for defence mechanisms against predators and pathogens,
some are responsible for odour, colours, pungencies of plants. Others give
a particular plant its medicinal or poisonous properties.
They include alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, volatile oils, terpenes, phenols,
flavonoids.
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