The Current State of Knowledge About Changes in the Synthesis of the Secondary Metabolites Caused by Habitat Conditions and Microbial Activity

This comprehensive review paper describes how stressful environmental conditions affect the amounts and types of secondary metabolites synthetized by plants, with particular emphasis on plants that spontaneously grow on post-mining sites. Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not directly necessary for the performance of basic life functions by plants but play an important role in the protection against adverse biotic and abiotic factors. Stress conditions stimulate the synthesis of secondary metabolites. The challenging post-mining sites are spontaneously colonized by many plant species, including medical plants. This observation inspired us to conduct the present review study. Apart from the abiotic conditions, the synthesis of secondary metabolites is also influenced by symbionts such as mycorrhizal fungi. A common effect of abiotic stressors is oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Metabolites such as antioxidants maintain the level of ROS at a level safe for the organism. This article presents the current state of knowledge about the impact of habitat conditions on the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which could impact the plant species growing spontaneously in post-mining areas. It considers the possibility of using such post-mining, mineral habitats to enhance these physiological mechanisms for synthesizing secondary metabolites.