Secondary Metabolism

Secondary metabolism is a set of biochemical pathways used by living organisms to produce molecules which are not required as part of their primary metabolic processes. These molecules, often referred to as secondary metabolites, have a variety of uses, including defence mechanisms (such as protection from predators or disease), signaling among organisms, and as part of the organism’s nutrition. Such metabolites can therefore be seen as important components of a species’ evolutionary strategy and their study can yield valuable insight into its physiology and ecology. As secondary metabolites are often enriched in food sources, they are also important for nutrition and health, with some metabolites having applications as food additives and medicine.