Importance of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites in Orchids: A Review

Abstract

Introduction: Orchids are beautiful flowering plants rich in chemical constituents. The flowers of orchids persist for a very long period and fetch high prices in the market. Since the prehistoric era, medicinal plants have been a vital part of human life. Orchids have become a part of traditional herbal remedies and have undergone extensive research due to their pharmacological significance. The alkaloids, phenolics, phenanthrenes, terpenoids and their derivatives are different biologically active substances found in leaves, stems or bulbs of orchids that exhibit pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-microbial etc.

Objectives: The current review focuses on the bioactive compounds and their significant role in orchids.

 Conclusions: The extract and metabolites of plants, especially from leaves and flowers have beneficial pharmacological properties. The various disorders such as arthritis, syphilis, cholera, jaundice, piles, tuberculosis, wounds, and stomach problems have been cured by using medication made from orchids. Habitat destruction, overharvesting, and various other human activities have led to a decline in the number of species and different conservation measures are needed to protect them.