introduction to plant metabolites

Introduction to
Plant Metabolites
ABS 403: Plant metabolites and separation Technology
Class: B.Sc., Status of Course: MAJOR COURSE, Approved since session: 2017-18
Total Credits:3, Periods(55 mts. each)/week:3(L-3+T-0+P/S-0), Min.pds./sem.:39
UNIT 1
Introduction to primary and secondary plant metabolites; National and international scenarios on secondary
metabolites production technology.
UNIT 2
Basic principles of separation techniques, strategies of downstream processing with optical references to
plant metabolites.
UNIT 3
Different techniques adopted for separation of biomolecules, Chromatographic separation process, scale-up
methods
UNIT 4
Large scale purification of biomolecules, Electrophoresis
UNIT 5
Chromate focussing, supercritical fluid extraction, Liquid-liquid extraction, UF, Aqueous two phase
separation
Metabolism
• Metabolism can be defined as the sum of all the
biochemical reactions carried out by an organism.
• Metabolites are the intermediates and products of

metabolism
• Usually restricted to small molecules.

Primary metabolites
• Compounds that are directly involved in the growth
and development of a plant.
• Found throughout the plant kingdom
• Primary metabolites are present in every living cell

capable of dividing. Life is not possible in absence
of primary metabolites.
• Eg: sugars, proteins and amino acids

Secondary metabolites
• Approximately 200,000 metabolites are produced in the plant
kingdom
• Secondary metabolites are large, diverse array of organic

compounds
• Do not aid in the growth and development of plants but are

required for the plant to survive in its environment.
• No general direct role in photosynthesis, respiration, solute

transport, protein synthesis, nutrient assimilation, formation of
carbohydrates, lipids etc.
• Have a restricted distribution in plant kingdom (found
in one plant species or related group of species).
• In case of absence, survival of an organism is affected

to a large extent.
• Examples: tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids

Classes of secondary Metabolites
3 main classes of secondary metabolites:
1. Terpenes (29000)
2. Nitrogen-containing alkaloids and
sulphur-containing compounds (12000)
3. Flavonoids, allied phenolic and polyphenolic
compounds (8000)
• Secondary metabolites are derived from primary
metabolism, they do not make up basic molecular
skeleton of the organism.
• The secondary metabolites serve as a buffering zone

into which excess C and N can be shunted into to
form inactive part of primary metabolism. The stored
C and N can revert back to primary metabolite by the
metabolic disintegration of secondary metabolite
when on demand.
Secondary metabolites are derived from
primary metabolites
Secondary Metabolite
biosynthesis
• Mostly in the Cytosol: hydrophilic compounds
• Chloroplasts: alkaloids (caffeine) and terpenoids
(monoterpenes)
• Mitochondria: some amines, alkaloids Vesicles:
alkaloids (protoberberines)
• Endoplamic reticulum: hydroxylaton steps, lipophilic
compounds SMs sequestration
Secondary Metabolite
Storage/Sequestration
• Vacuole: Water soluble compounds (alkaloids, cyanogenic
glucosides, glucosinolates, saponins, anthocyanins,
flavonoids, cardenolides)
• Lipophilic substances are sequestered in resin ducts,

laticifers, glandular hairs, trichomes, in the cuticle, on the
cuticle
Storage in Laticifers
Latex is a sap mixture of
compounds stored in special
structures called LATICIFERS
Rubber was isolated from it
in the past - The composition
is typically water, terpenes,
sugars, enzymes, etc. –
Often latex has a milky
appearance
Functions of Secondary Metabolites
Earlier considered to be metabolic wastes or functionless end
products of metabolism. Later found to be involved in plant defense
and other ecological significance
• Defend plants against herbivores and pathogens
• Attractants of plant pollinators
• Used in signalling and regulation of primary metabolic pathways.
• Agents of communication between organisms
• Plant-microbe symbioses
Applications
Secondary metabolites are used for variety of
biological activities like antimicrobial and
antiparasitic agents, enzyme inhibitors and
antitumor agent, immunosuppressive agents, etc
Primary metabolism-Secondary
metabolism boundary
• Many intermediates of primary metabolism overlap with
the intermediates of secondary metabolites. Eg: amino acids
• Sterols are secondary metabolites that are indispensable

part of many structural framework of a cell
• Common biochemical pathway being shared by primary and

secondary metabolism
• Wounding can lead to release of a pre-fabricated
compound from a compartment
• The mix with an enzyme (often an hydrolaze) will

result in production of an active form of the
chemical. Example: myrosinase-glucosinolates
(Myrosinase converts glucosinolates (found in Brassicaceae) into
isothiocyanates (toxic, (involved in defense against pathogens and herbivory))
DHA1: Primary vs. Secondary
Metabolites

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introduction to plant metabolites

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Introduction to

• Metabolites are the intermediates and products of

• Usually restricted to small molecules.

• Found throughout the plant kingdom

• Primary metabolites are present in every living cell

• Eg: sugars, proteins and amino acids

• Secondary metabolites are large, diverse array of organic

• Do not aid in the growth and development of plants but are

• No general direct role in photosynthesis, respiration, solute

• In case of absence, survival of an organism is affected

• Examples: tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids

• The secondary metabolites serve as a buffering zone

• Lipophilic substances are sequestered in resin ducts,

• Defend plants against herbivores and pathogens

• Attractants of plant pollinators

• Used in signalling and regulation of primary metabolic pathways.

• Agents of communication between organisms

• Sterols are secondary metabolites that are indispensable

• Common biochemical pathway being shared by primary and

• The mix with an enzyme (often an hydrolaze) will

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