Purpose of secondary metabolites production in plants

• Defense from herbivores
• Growth inhibition and toxicity to microbes
• As repellant
• Inhibition of germination and seedling growth and attraction of pollinating insects
• Induce volatile components
• Attracts predatory organism and protection of plant from UV light.

Application of secondary metabolite

• Enzyme inhibitor
• Immunological activity
• Biochemical activity
• As pesticide, herbicide or insecticide.

Synthesis of secondary metabolite

• Alkaloids caffeine and terpenes are synthesized in chloroplast
• Some amines conium and alkaloids are synthesized in mitochondria
• Hydroxylation steps of lipophilic compounds occur in endoplasmic reticulum
• Alkaloids like protoberberines are synthesized in vesicles
• Anthocyanin and flavonoids are synthesized in vacuoles and cell wall.