Catatan

Plant Secondary Metabolites is a scientific reference book written by Harinder P.S. Makkar, P. Siddhuraju, and Klaus Becker, published by Humana Press in 2007 as part of the Methods in Molecular Biology series. This book provides practical laboratory methods for the identification and quantification of various plant secondary metabolites, also known as phytochemicals. These compounds play important roles in plant defense, adaptation, and interactions with other organisms. The book discusses several groups of secondary metabolites, including trypsin inhibitors, chymotrypsin inhibitors, alpha-amylase inhibitors, lectins, phytic acid, oxalic acid, nitrates, nitrites, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, glucosinolates, cyanogenic compounds, and other plant-derived substances. Each chapter explains the chemical characteristics, biological effects, principles of analysis, required materials, and laboratory procedures for determining specific compounds. Various analytical techniques, including spectrophotometric methods and other quantitative assays, are presented in a practical format to support laboratory applications. The book also describes the potential beneficial and harmful effects of plant secondary metabolites on animal nutrition and human health. Overall, this book serves as a useful reference for researchers, lecturers, laboratory practitioners, and students in pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, plant science, food science, and related fields.