Both the anti-nutritional and beneficial effects of secondary compounds in a range of temperate and tropical forages have been reviewed. Major secondary compounds in temperate and tropical forage plants occur in the phenolic fraction and include condensed and hydrolysable tannins, phenolic monomers and lignin. Condensed tannins (CT) bind to plant protein by pH-reversible hydrogen bonding. In te...

Many studies have paid particular attention to the role of either secondary plant compounds or amino acids as determinants of host-plant range in phytophagous insects. Here we examine the relative importance of both of these classes of compound in host acceptance by generalist and specialist morphs of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, that are morphologically similar and genetically identical....

There are over 24,000 known secondary plant compounds including the alkaloids, non-protein amino acids, cyanogenic glycosides, terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids. Research has concentrated on toxicity and nutritional limitations of plants that result from the presence of secondary compounds. Secondary plant compounds have both anti-nutritional and toxic effects on mammalian herbivores. They al...

It has been historically difficult to manipulate secondary compounds in living plants to assess how these compounds influence plant-herbivore and plant-pollinator interactions. Using a hemiparasitic plant that takes up secondary compounds from host plants, I experimentally manipulated secondary compounds in planta and assessed their effects on herbivores and pollinators in the field. Here, I sh...

Characterization and extraction of plant secondary metabolites are important in agriculture, pharmaceutical, and food industry. In this regard, the applied analytical methods are mostly costly and time-consuming; therefore, choosing a suitable approach is essential for optimum results and economic suitability. One of the recently considered methods used to characterize new types of materials is...

in biotechnology has been concentrated to review alternative routes for the production of natural compounds. plant cell culture systems are viable alternatives for the production of secondary metabolites that are of commercial importance in food and pharmaceutical industries. however, relatively very few cultures synthesize these compounds over extended periods in amounts comparable to those fo...

In biotechnology has been concentrated to review alternative routes for the production of natural compounds. Plant cell culture systems are viable alternatives for the production of secondary metabolites that are of commercial importance in food and pharmaceutical industries. However, relatively very few cultures synthesize these compounds over extended periods in amounts comparable to those fo...