Plant-Derived Terpenes: Biosynthesis, Classification and Applications

Abstract

Terpenes represent one of the largest and most structurally diverse classes of plant secondary metabolites, playing essential roles in plant growth, development, and interactions with the biotic and abiotic environment. While extensive literature exists on terpene classification and biosynthesis, much of the current knowledge remains fragmented across biochemical, ecological, and applied research domains. Recent advances have highlighted terpenes not merely as end products of secondary metabolism but as multifunctional chemical mediators involved in plant defense, signaling, stress adaptation, and interactions with other organisms. This review critically synthesizes current understanding of plant-derived terpenes by integrating their biosynthetic origins with functional roles in ecological processes and emerging applications in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetic industries. Rather than providing a purely descriptive account, in present study regulatory aspects of terpene biosynthesis, context-dependent biological functions, and key challenges that limit their translational exploitation were explored. Finally, we identify major knowledge gaps and future research directions, emphasizing the need for integrative and interdisciplinary approaches to fully harness the ecological and applied potential of plant terpenes.