C
H 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
C
H 3
C
H 3
CH 3
beta - Carotene
10.5.9 Polyterpenes
Polyterpenes consist of more than eight isoprene units. They are available in the
plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae, and
Asclepiadaceae.
Pure rubber chemically polymer of cis form of isoprene is obtained from Hevea
brasiliensis belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Gutta-percha is chemically a
polymer of trans form of isoprene (Lalonde 2005).
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
C
H 3
n
Structure of natural rubber
Terpenoids are a large group of secondary metabolites having various classes of
compounds. They are biosynthesized via mevalonic acid pathway from simple
compound, acetyl CoA (Fig. 10.25).
10.6 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are ubiquitously found in living beings on the Earth. Carbohydrates
are sugars, starches, and fibers that are available in grains, vegetables, and milk
products. Carbohydrate, e.g., glucose is the first product manufactured by photosynthesis from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water from the soil in the
presence of sunlight with the help of chlorophyll, a green pigment. Glucose is the
beginning material for the preparation of all phytoconstituents and also, for the
preparation of all animal biochemicals. More carbohydrates occur in nature. The
abundance of carbohydrates is maximum among all other kinds of natural products.
Cellulose, a polymer of glucose combined by b-glycosidic linkage is the principal
structural component of plants and has taken top-ranked abundance as a single
10 Secondary Metabolites from Plant Sources
363
H 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
C
H 3
C
H 3
CH 3
beta - Carotene
10.5.9 Polyterpenes
Polyterpenes consist of more than eight isoprene units. They are available in the
plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae, and
Asclepiadaceae.
Pure rubber chemically polymer of cis form of isoprene is obtained from Hevea
brasiliensis belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Gutta-percha is chemically a
polymer of trans form of isoprene (Lalonde 2005).
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
CH 3
C
H 3
n
Structure of natural rubber
Terpenoids are a large group of secondary metabolites having various classes of
compounds. They are biosynthesized via mevalonic acid pathway from simple
compound, acetyl CoA (Fig. 10.25).
10.6 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are ubiquitously found in living beings on the Earth. Carbohydrates
are sugars, starches, and fibers that are available in grains, vegetables, and milk
products. Carbohydrate, e.g., glucose is the first product manufactured by photosynthesis from atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water from the soil in the
presence of sunlight with the help of chlorophyll, a green pigment. Glucose is the
beginning material for the preparation of all phytoconstituents and also, for the
preparation of all animal biochemicals. More carbohydrates occur in nature. The
abundance of carbohydrates is maximum among all other kinds of natural products.
Cellulose, a polymer of glucose combined by b-glycosidic linkage is the principal
structural component of plants and has taken top-ranked abundance as a single
10 Secondary Metabolites from Plant Sources
363