A review of medicinal and aromatic plants and their secondary metabolites status under abiotic stress

Abstract

In developing countries, aromatic and medicinal plants are still used in traditional and alternative medicines. In India, medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine to cure various ailments. In the past decades, several studies highlighted the therapeutic properties and biological activities of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). These MAPs include Andrographis paniculata, Artemisia annua, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Ferula asafoetida, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha piperita, Ocimum sanctum, Piper nigrum, Solanum nigrum, Tagetes minuta and Trigonella foenum-graecum. The MAPs contain bioactive secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, phenolics and saponins. These secondary metabolites possess antimalarial, anthelminthic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiartheritic, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, antifungal, antispasmodic, cardio protective, ant thyroids and antihistaminic properties. These MAPs are also used in Indian traditional medicine for cure of several diseases like diarrhoea, indigestion, pains, congestion, coughs, sinusitis, fever, flu, sore throats, chills, sickness, rheumatism, sprains and muscular pains. Apart from the pharmaceutical industries, MAPs also have significance in industries related to perfumery, cosmetic, liquor and nutrition. Secondary metabolites play a major role in the adaptation of plants to the changing environment and stress condition. Secondary metabolites in plants are affected by both biotic and abiotic stress. High levels of stress in medicinal and aromatic plants can affect the secondary metabolite production. Abiotic (cold, heat, drought, salinity) stress leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cellular compartments of plant cell. Here we provide a review of the effect of abiotic stress on secondary metabolites of different medicinal and aromatic plants.