Explorando la utilidad y las perspectivas de los metabolitos secundarios de las plantas

Secondary metabolites are complex organic compounds synthesized by plants that, unlike primary metabolites, do not participate directly in fundamental processes such as growth or reproduction. Instead, they are crucial to plant survival and adaptation to the environment. They act as a chemical interface between plants and their surroundings, playing essential roles in defense, tolerance to abiotic stresses, and ecological interactions. This editorial note explores the concept of plant secondary metabolites, their main classes, and cutting-edge biotechnological strategies that enable their application in industries.