Polyphenols and terpenes in Mediterranean plants: an overview of their roles and possible applications

The Mediterranean basin represents one of the key hotspots in terms biodiversity and endemic floristic richness world (i.e., a reservoir plant biodiversity). With ongoing climate change, vegetation is increasingly exposed to different sources environmental stresses, such as drought, heat, solar irradiance. To cope with these severe abiotic beside morpho-anatomical traits, species enhance production secondary metabolites, especially terpenes polyphenols. These compounds have roles plants. Terpene polyphenol play antioxidant function (quenching Reactive Oxygen Species) thus improving ozone drought tolerance, while also acting pollinator attractors repellents for dangerous herbivorous insects (contributing taste odour tissues). In addition their plants, bioactive provide multiple health-promoting benefits humans. Indeed, they can be used types industries, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, green (as supplements fossil fuel insecticides) cosmetic industries. conclusion, may considered innovative components technological domains