Recent advances in science have clarified the role of plant specialized metabolites (classically known as plant secondary metabolites), which cannot be considered only bioactive molecules used for human health but also pivotal factors for the global ecosystem. They play major roles in plant life, evolution, and mutualism. To provide the reader a general view of plant specialized metabolites, it is important to consider both the biochemistry and the functional/ecological role of these important compounds. Around 200,000 specialized metabolites are formed by a wide array of plant metabolic pathways from numerous plant taxa and through learning how other species (including human beings) rely on them. Plant Specialized Metabolism: Genomics, Biochemistry, and Biological Functions will provide the reader with special insights into the sophisticated nature of these metabolites and their various and valuable uses based on the most recent findings in science. The field of plant specialized metabolism has witnessed tremendous growth in the past decade. This growth has had a profound impact on multiple disciplines in life science, including biochemistry, metabolism, enzymology, natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical ecology, and evolution. It also has yielded valuable knowledge and technology readily applicable in various industries, such as agriculture, horticulture, energy, renewable chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The book focuses on the molecular background of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, their functional role, and potential applications.

Vetiveria is one of the most versatile genera in plant kingdom. For example, the species Vetiveria zizanoides produces oderous roots from which a precious essential oil is distilled and used in a variety of applications from perfumery to ethnopharmacology. The same roots give the plant particular characteristics that make it a valuable natural barrier against erosion. Vetiveria: The Genus Vetiveria describes the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, essential oil biogenesis and chemical composition, ethnopharmacology and distillation. The book covers the production of plants for oil exploration, the use of Vetiver as an ecological tool against erosion, flood, soil pollution, and many other applications.

The genus Vetiveria is one of the most versatile genera in plant species. The species Vetiveria Zizanoides produces oderous roots from which a precious essential oil is distilled and used in a variety of applications from perfumery to ethnopharmacology. The same roots give the plant particular characteristics that make it a valuable natural barrier against erosion. Vetiveria: The Genus Vetiveria describes the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, essential oil biogenesis and chemical composition, ethnopharmacology and distillation, as well as the production of plants for oil exploration and for the use of Vetiver as an ecological tool against erosion, flood, soil pollution and many other applications.

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Recent advances in science have clarified the role of plant specialized metabolites (classically known as plant secondary metabolites), which cannot be considered only bioactive molecules used for human health but also pivotal factors for the global ecosystem. They play major roles in plant life, evolution, and mutualism. To provide the reader a general view of plant specialized metabolites, it is important to consider both the biochemistry and the functional/ecological role of these important compounds. Around 200,000 specialized metabolites are formed by a wide array of plant metabolic pathways from numerous plant taxa and through learning how other species (including human beings) rely on them. Plant Specialized Metabolism: Genomics, Biochemistry, and Biological Functions will provide the reader with special insights into the sophisticated nature of these metabolites and their various and valuable uses based on the most recent findings in science. The field of plant specialized metabolism has witnessed tremendous growth in the past decade. This growth has had a profound impact on multiple disciplines in life science, including biochemistry, metabolism, enzymology, natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical ecology, and evolution. It also has yielded valuable knowledge and technology readily applicable in various industries, such as agriculture, horticulture, energy, renewable chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The book focuses on the molecular background of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, their functional role, and potential applications.

Plants have always been a source of nourishment and healing for living things. Their dual task of producing nutrients and medicines has played a key role in the evolution of herbivore and omnivore organisms. The so-called secondary metabolites are molecules with well-defined functional roles. These compounds are produced to defend plants from abiotic and biotic stresses. The complexity of the molecular structures produced by plants is only equal to their versatility and chemical diversity, while the harmonic intertwining of biosynthetic and metabolic pathways offers a perfect picture of the adaptive plasticity of plants to changing environmental conditions.This book is divided into three parts designed to provide the reader with a general overview, a biochemical and a biotechnological approach to plant bioactive molecules.The first part analyses the concepts of chemical diversity, sustainability and functional role of bioactive molecules, by exploring the sites of synthesis and accumulation, the plant defence strategies and the use of bioactive molecules as food supplements and as a source for natural products to fight diseases. The first part ends with the study of chemotaxonomy.The second part is dedicated to plant biochemistry, with the detailed description of the main biosynthetic pathways leading to the synthesis of phenols and flavonoids, terpenes, oxylipins and nitrogen-containing substances.The third and final part describes plant biotechnology and production of bioactive molecules with industrial processes, both in vivo and in vitro. Special attention is paid to cell and tissue cultures, roots and shoots cultures, technological aspects describing bioreactors, biofermenters and photobioreactors. The book concludes with a chapter describing the genetic engineering strategies for the production of plant bioactive molecules, facing with ethical problems, risks and benefits of using recombinant DNA in genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the use of molecular pharming, with a general discussion on food safety.