Phenolic Compounds Under Stress

Abstract

Plants growing under natural conditions are consistently exposed to a range of biotic and abiotic stress responsible for the heavy reduction in plant growth and productivity. Biotic stress may include a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, insects, and herbivores, while certain unfavorable environmental conditions such as water scarcity, high salt, and heavy metal content in plant habitat serve as abiotic stress. Plants by their nature produce various primary and secondary metabolites. Plants require primary metabolites for their fundamental functions hence playing a role in the growth and development, while secondary metabolites protect plants from environmental adversities and in encountering stress constraints. Phenolic compounds, terpenes, and nitrogen-containing compounds are forming the major classes of secondary metabolites, which witness drastic seasonal, geographical, and environmental fluctuations. Phenolic compounds, one of the major class of secondary metabolites play an important role in mitigating the detrimental outcomes of biological and non-biological stresses. The present study undertakes the diverse phenolic compound involved and their mode of guiding plant defense system.