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Abstract
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Phytochemical compounds are largely responsible for the multidimensionaland wide medicinal effects of pharmaceutical plants. Phytochemical compounds aregenerally divided into two classes based on their roles in basic metabolic processes, thatis, primitive and secondary metabolites (SMs). In this chapter, secondary chemical compounds from plants are discussed as important sources of medical benefits from plants.Terpenoids (or terpenes) are one of the most diverse natural product families, with over40,000 individual compounds that occur both primary and secondary in metabolism.Terpenoids are anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, antimalarial, and antiviral,inhibit and remedy cardiovascular diseases, promote transdermal absorption, and havehypoglycemic effects. It is well-known that flavonoids and phenolic compounds are themost important bioactive factors and antioxidants that have enjoyed verbose importance due to their advantages for curing and preventing plenty of illnesses for humans.Several bioactivities of phenolic compounds are involved in their chemopreventiveproperties, including antimutagenic or anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as their ability to boost apoptosis by inhibiting cell proliferation,inhibition of DNA binding, differentiation, migration, and blocking signaling. Conversely, plant steroids are mainly composed of sugars to form glycosides. Steroidal factors used to counter inflammatory disorders are glucocorticoids; long-term treatmentcauses intense side effects. As a result, it is imperative that research be undertaken toidentify new phytochemicals that have a remedial potential without or with remarkablydecreased side effects. In general, we argue about terpenoids, phenolic compounds, andsteroids. This chapter aims to provide an overview of terpenoids and phenolic compounds as the interesting alternative originals for pharmaceutical and medicinal plantswith anti-inflammatory effects and containing
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