Plant Phenolics Compounds and Stress Management: A Review

Plant polyphenols are naturally occurring bioactive compounds that are present in a variety of plant species. There are two major pathways, viz., shikimic acid or phenylpropanoid and the malonic acid pathway through which phenolic compounds are synthesized. Phenylalanine is a crucial compound that originates from the phenylpropanoid metabolites of plants. Secondary metabolites apparently act as plant resistance against (microorganisms including pathogens) the gauntlet of biotic and abiotic stresses. Several varieties of large known phenolic compounds have been synthesized by higher plants. The compounds of plant polyphenols generally have a limited response to certain chemicals such as tannins and phytoalexins, signal compounds like salicylic acid and flavonoids, ultraviolet screens like flavonoids, and structural polymers like lignin, and fascinates like carotenoids and flavonoids can act as antioxidants. The therapeutic potential of these compounds lessens the risk of life-threatening diseases like cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and neurodegenerative epidemics. Hence, this chapter covers different sources of polyphenols, and their chemical nature and its advantageous pharmacological properties have been reported.