IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS PHYTOCHEMICALS IN THE GROWTH AND PROTECTION OF PLANTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – iv
Table of Contents – – – – – – – – v
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction – – – – – – – – 1-2
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Definition of phytochemicals – – – – – 3-4
2.1 History of phytochemicals – – – – – 4-5
2.2 Functions of phytochemicals in human – – – 6-7
2.3 Classification of phytochemicals – – – – 7-8
2.3.1 Phenolic compounds – – – – – – 8-11
2.3.2 Tannins – – – – – – – – 11-12
2.3.3 Alkaloids – – – – – – – – 12-14
2.3.4 Terpenoids – – – – – – – – 14-15
2.3.5 Saponin – – – – – – – – 16
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Importance of plants phytochemicals in the growth and
protection of plants – – – – – – 17
3.1 Role of amino Acid – – – – – – 17
3.2 Role of reducing sugars – – – – – – 18
3.3 Role of phenols/polyphenols – – – – – 18-19
3.4 Role of flavonoids – – – – – – – 19-20
3.5 Role of lipid – – – – – – – – 20-21
3.6 Role of anthocyanins – – – – – – 21-22
3.7 Role of alkaloids – – – – – – – 11
3.8 Role of terpenoids – – – – – – – 22
3.9 Role of saponins – – – – – – – 23
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Summary and Conclusion – – – – – 24
4.1 Summary – – – – – – – – 24
4.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 24
References
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
Phytochemicals involves the investigation of phytochemicals produced by plants, their structural compositions, biosynthetic pathways, functions and mechanism of actions in the living systems (Chukwuebuka et al., 2019). The chemical substances present in plants or phytochemicals may be classified as primary and secondary metabolites based on their chemical structure and biosynthetic derivation (Gnanavel Velu et al., 2018).
Primary metabolites (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids) are highly analogous in their structure and are vital for metabolism, growth, development, maintenance and survival of plant (Mathias and Daniel, 2020). Secondary metabolites (polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids) are not crucial for survival of the plants affect the interaction of plant with its surrounding and hence ensuring the quiddity in its ecosystem (Saurabh et al., 2015). Phytochemicals are distinctive to definite plants and parts of plants. They protect plants from deleterious agent such as insects and microbes, traumatic events like extreme temperature and impart color it (Kristina et al., 2017).
Phytochemicals are plant substances comprising diverse bioactive with numerous health benefits and have been utilized in conventional medicine system to treat various ailments and disease (Rakesh et al., 2019).
