Plant Secondary Metabolites in the Management of Degenerative Diseases

Medicinal plants have been indispensable in the development of lead compounds for the management of human health. However, herbal remedies have not been explored maximally in modern therapeutics for the management of drug-resistant diseases, re-emerging diseases, metabolic syndrome, etc. Several secondary metabolites with proven efficacious pharmacological effects have been identified from plants, some isolated but unfortunately never developed into a marketable pharmaceutical product. Thus, this chapter provides resourceful information on the secondary metabolites of herbal plants with great pharmacological potential. Databases such as JSTOR, Science Direct, Google, PubMed, and Medline were explored for relevant information on this concept. A spectrum of plant secondary metabolites with potent antibactarial, antiviral, antimalarial, anticancer, antidiabetic activities in different plant species were collated, the class of these metabolites and mechanism of action was compiled. An acquaintance with efficacious secondary metabolites used in the management of various diseases will serve as a basic tool for Ethnomedical Scientists in the integration of folkloric knowledge in contemporary medicine for the formulation of herbal remedies with superior pharmacological relevance than conventional medicine.