PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY PAPERS SECONDARY METABOLITES PIG INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Plants have two types of metabolite compounds, namely primary metabolites and secondary. Primary metabolites are used by plants for growth, while secondary metabolites do not play a direct role in plant growth, but are produced by plants in certain amounts under stress conditions. Examples of secondary metabolites include antibiotics, pigments, toxins, effectors of ecological and symbiotic competition, pheromones, enzyme inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, receptor antagonists and agonists, pesticides, antitumor agents, and stimulants for plant growth. Each type of secondary metabolite compound has a different function. These compounds are not essential for plant survival, but provide some benefits. Secondary metabolites function as a plant defense mechanism, both from biotic and abiotic stress. Apart from being a defense mechanism, this compound also functions as an attractant. Certain secondary metabolite compounds can be used by humans as antioxidants or medicinal raw materials. Secondary metabolite production is triggered by stress in plants. Increased radiation and low air temperatures affect secondary metabolites. Biotic stress also plays a role in plant metabolic activities. Secondary metabolite compounds can be produced by various types of plants, including various types of nuts such as soybeans, green beans, peanuts, and other potential nuts such as cowpeas and pigeon peas which have been identified as containing phenolic antioxidants. Various legume plants have an important role as a food source. With the presence of antioxidants, various types of nuts are a potential functional food source for development. 1.2 Problem Formulation Based on the background description above, the problem formulation can be taken as follows: 1. What are plant secondary metabolites? 2. What is the mechanism of secondary metabolite production? 3. What are the benefits of secondary metabolites for plants? 1.3 Purpose of the Paper The purpose of writing this paper is to fulfill the assignment for the Pharmaceutical Botany course regarding issues related to secondary metabolites in plants. 1.4 Benefits of Papers The benefit of writing this paper is that it can increase the author's and reader's insight into secondary metabolites in plants. CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Secondary Metabolites in Plants Plants produce various organic compounds, most of which do not play a direct role in plant growth and development. Metabolites are classified into two, namely primary metabolites and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites that are formed in limited quantities are important factors for the growth and life of living things. Secondary metabolites are not used by plants for growth and are produced more when plants are under stress. This compound is produced on a limited basis in certain taxonomic groups. Plants have evolved various ways to survive various stresses, one of which is by producing toxic secondary metabolites. Toxic metabolites generally accumulate in vacuoles, the extracellular cavity of trichomes, or are secreted in extra cells. Glycosylation is an important modification that occurs in various secondary metabolites. Based on the origin of biosynthesis, natural plant metabolite products are divided into three main groups, namely terpenoids, alkaloids and phenylpropanoids as well as a group of phenolic antioxidant compounds. There are two groups of sources of antioxidants, namely synthetic antioxidants (antioxidants obtained from the synthesis of chemical reactions) and natural antioxidants (antioxidants extracted from natural ingredients or contained in natural ingredients). Natural antioxidants come from phenolic compounds such as the flavonoid group. Flavonoids are a class of secondary metabolites produced by plants. This compound can be toxic to other organisms, working by interfering with the function of cell proteins. Some metabolites interact with molecules that have fundamental cellular functions, such as DNA and proteins involved in cell division. Nofiani (2008) stated that the formation of secondary metabolites is regulated by nutrition, decreased growth rate, feedback control, enzyme inactivation, and enzyme induction. 2.2 Secondary Metabolite Production Mechanism Secondary metabolites can only be found in one species or certain group of species, while primary metabolites (amino acids, nucleotides, sugars, lipids) are found in almost all plants. Secondary metabolites are byproducts or intermediate products of primary metabolism. In general, secondary metabolites divided into three groups, namely terpenes, phenolic compounds and secondary products containing nitrogen. The grouping is based on the pathway of formation of each compound. Production of secondary metabolites occurs via pathways outside of carbohydrate and protein biosynthesis. There are three main pathways in the process of forming secondary metabolites, namely the malonic acid, mevalonic acid and shikimic acid pathways. The secondary metabolite of the phenolic group is obtained from phenylalanine by removing ammonia molecules from cinnamic acid. This reaction is catalyzed by phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the most studied enzyme in plant secondary metabolites. Phenylalanine is at the bifurcation point between primary and secondary metabolism, so this reaction is an important step in the formation of many phenolic compounds [16]. Terpene biosynthesis can occur in two ways, namely the mevalonic acid pathway and the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway (Lincoln and Eduardo, 2002). Terpenoid biosynthesis in plants via the deoxycellulose pathway. The biosynthetic pathway for terpenoids begins with the formation of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) or diamethylalyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP), namely isoprene which binds two phosphates and then combines with each other from the end to the base to form monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, terpenes, triterpenes and so on. in. Isoprene is a building block of terpenoids, but it is not the earliest ingredient. Isoprene must bind phosphate because even though DMAPP and IPP have double bonds, the electrons are not very active to be able to react with similar molecules (Saifudin, 2014). One example of a derivative from the terpene group is azadirachtin which is often used as a biopesticide. Although the biosynthesis of azadirachtin cannot be fully and definitively determined, in general its biosynthesis can be traced to the process of triterpenoid formation via the mevalonate acetate pathway with the main precursor being squalene. 2.3 Benefits of Secondary Metabolites for Plants The function of many secondary metabolite compounds is unknown. (Croteau et al. 2000). Mariska (2013) states that secondary metabolite compounds in plants have several functions, including as attractants (attracting pollinating insects), protecting against environmental stress, protecting against pest/disease attacks (phytoalexins), protecting against ultra violet rays, as growth regulators. and to compete with other plants (allelopathy). Secondary metabolites mainly function in resistance to predators and pathogens (Croteau et al. 2000, Leiss et al. 2011). Plants have different mechanisms for eliminating or modifying toxic compounds, including: excretion of toxic compounds into the extracellular part, isolating toxic compounds into the vacuole, biosynthesis of toxic compounds in the extracellular part and modification of toxic compounds into inactive forms (Sirikantaramas et al. 2008) . Alkaloid compounds function to protect plants from various herbivorous animals. Tannins, lignin, flavonoids, and some simple phenolic compounds also serve as defenses against herbivores and pathogens. In addition, lignin functions to strengthen mechanical cell walls, and many flavonoid pigments act as attractants for pollinators and seed dispersers. Some phenolic compounds have allelopathic activity and can affect and harm plants that grow side by side (Croteau et al. 2000, Junaedi et al. 2006, Mariska 2013). Certain primary metabolites also have a role in allelopathy, such as palmitic and stearic acids, but generally allelopathic compounds are included in the secondary metabolite group. There are several hypotheses about the function of secondary metabolites for producing secondary metabolites, for example in maintaining life from bacterial, fungal, insect and animal infections through the production of antibiotics (Gudbjarnason 1999). Secondary metabolites also play a role in improving the life of metabolite-producing microbes when competing with other species (Tabarez 2005). Plants that are able to produce secondary metabolite compounds have the potential to be used as a source of genes for resistance to certain pests or diseases, and have the opportunity to be developed as biopesticides (Croteau et al. 2000, Leiss et al. 2011). Phenolic extracts from resistant plants showed stronger growth inhibitory activity on Sclerotinia ascospores than susceptible plants (Prats et al. 2003). The high tannin levels in the Mutiara soybean variety make the plants more resistant to attack by the Ophiomyia phaseoli seed fly (Muliani 2013). Research by Rubiyo and Amariya (2013) states that resistant cloned cocoa contains higher phenolic compounds than moderate and susceptible clones postinfection. However, Lygin et al. (2009) did not find a significant role for quercetin and camphorol as compounds that protect soybean plants from rust disease. This can be seen from the increase in this compound not being correlated with rust resistance. However, in general secondary metabolite compounds are beneficial for plants, but these benefits depend on the type of active ingredient. CHAPTER III CLOSING 3.1 Conclusion Secondary metabolite compounds are chemical compounds that generally have bioactivity and are used to protect plants from pests and diseases for the plant or the environment. The difference between secondary metabolite compounds and primary metabolites lies in the synthesis time. Secondary metabolite compounds are not always produced, but are only synthesized at certain times. Meanwhile, primary metabolite compounds are synthesized at any time for plant survival. Secondary metabolite compounds can be classified into 3 large groups, including alkaloids, phenolics (flavonoids), and terpenoids. The function of secondary metabolites is to defend themselves from unfavorable environmental conditions, for example to overcome pests and diseases, attract pollinators, and as signal molecules. So, secondary metabolites are used by organisms to interact with their environment. Meanwhile, the function of secondary metabolites for humans is generally used as mixed chemical drugs to make mixed chemical drugs to make marketable products. 3.2 Suggestions From the preparation of this paper, the author realizes that in writing this paper there are still many errors and shortcomings both in terms of material and discussion. For this reason, we really hope for constructive criticism and suggestions for the perfection of this paper in the future.