Chemotaxonomy: A Tool for Plant Classification

Nature which consists of so many variabilities of living components of the environment possesses useful, harmful and inactive chemical constituents. The classification based on these chemical constituents is known as chemotaxonomy. All the living components of the environment produce secondary metabolites that are derived from primary metabolites. The chemical structure of the secondary metabolites is often specific and restricted to taxonomically related organisms. The classification of plants on the basis of specific class of secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic pathways constitutes chemotaxonomy. Its study is helpful to taxonomist, phytochemists and pharmacologists to solve selected taxonomical problems.