INTRODUCTION TO
NATURAL PRODUCT
CHEMISTRY
Study notes
Summary
Pathways
Practice Exercises
, 1.1 Primary vs Secondary Metabolites
Primary Metabolites
Found in all living organisms (ubiquitous)
Essential for growth, development, and basic survival
Examples: Lipids, amino acids, sugars
Secondary Metabolites
Occur only in specific species or groups
Not essential for survival, but provide ecological advantages
Highly diverse in structure
Examples: Saponins, flavonoids, steroids
1.2 Special Types of Plant Chemical Defenses
Allelopathy
A biological phenomenon where plants release chemical substances (from leaves or roots) that inhibit the
growth of nearby competing plants.
Phytoalexins
Low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds
Include terpenoids, alkaloids, glycosteroid
Produced in response to biotic & abiotic stress
Act as part of a plant’s defense system against invading microorganisms
Phytoanticipin
Low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds
Present in plant tissue before microbial attack
Synthesized from pre-existing constituents after infection
1.3 Uses of Secondary Metabolites
1. Direct use as drugs
e.g., Morphine (analgesic), Artemisinin (antimalarial), Vinblastine (anticancer)
2. Starting materials for drug synthesis
Serve as precursors for semisynthetic pharmaceuticals
1. Models for pharmacologically active compounds
Provide inspiration for the development of synthetic drugs
2. Chemotaxonomy
Classification of plants based on chemical composition
1.4 Classification of Natural Products
Based on Chemical Structure
Heterocyclic compounds: Alkaloids, flavonoids
Fatty compounds / open-chain aliphatic: Amino acids
Alicyclic / cycloaliphatic compounds: Alkaloids, terpenoids
Aromatic / benzenoid compounds: Phenolics, quinones
Based on Physiological Activities
NATURAL PRODUCT
CHEMISTRY
Study notes
Summary
Pathways
Practice Exercises
, 1.1 Primary vs Secondary Metabolites
Primary Metabolites
Found in all living organisms (ubiquitous)
Essential for growth, development, and basic survival
Examples: Lipids, amino acids, sugars
Secondary Metabolites
Occur only in specific species or groups
Not essential for survival, but provide ecological advantages
Highly diverse in structure
Examples: Saponins, flavonoids, steroids
1.2 Special Types of Plant Chemical Defenses
Allelopathy
A biological phenomenon where plants release chemical substances (from leaves or roots) that inhibit the
growth of nearby competing plants.
Phytoalexins
Low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds
Include terpenoids, alkaloids, glycosteroid
Produced in response to biotic & abiotic stress
Act as part of a plant’s defense system against invading microorganisms
Phytoanticipin
Low molecular weight antimicrobial compounds
Present in plant tissue before microbial attack
Synthesized from pre-existing constituents after infection
1.3 Uses of Secondary Metabolites
1. Direct use as drugs
e.g., Morphine (analgesic), Artemisinin (antimalarial), Vinblastine (anticancer)
2. Starting materials for drug synthesis
Serve as precursors for semisynthetic pharmaceuticals
1. Models for pharmacologically active compounds
Provide inspiration for the development of synthetic drugs
2. Chemotaxonomy
Classification of plants based on chemical composition
1.4 Classification of Natural Products
Based on Chemical Structure
Heterocyclic compounds: Alkaloids, flavonoids
Fatty compounds / open-chain aliphatic: Amino acids
Alicyclic / cycloaliphatic compounds: Alkaloids, terpenoids
Aromatic / benzenoid compounds: Phenolics, quinones
Based on Physiological Activities
