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## IntechOpen Book Series Biochemistry Volume 21

Prof. Shagufta Perveen is a Distinguish Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Perveen has acted as the principal investigator of major research projects funded by the research unit of King Saud University. She has more than ninety original research papers in peer-reviewed journals of international repute to her credit. She is a fellow member of the Royal Society of Chemis-

try UK and the American Chemical Society of the United States.

Prof. Areej Al-Taweel obtained her Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Her research focuses on different Saudi Arabian medicinal plants and she has isolated many bioactive natural products. Dr. Al-Taweel has published more than fifty-five papers in ISI-ranking journals.

**Editors of Volume 21: Shagufta Perveen and Areej Al-Taweel** Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

**Book Series Editor: Miroslav Blumenberg** NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, USA

### Scope of the Series

Contents

*by Shagufta Perveen*

*by Paco Noriega*

of Ripening Stage

*by Bechir Baccouri and Imene Rajhi*

*and Fernando Ramos-Escudero*

*by Bechir Baccouri and Imen Rajhi*

for Cancer Therapy

**Preface XI**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 13**

**Chapter 3 27**

**Chapter 4 35**

**Chapter 5 53**

**Chapter 6 63**

**Chapter 7 77**

Terpene Compounds of New Tunisian Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Effect

*Adriana Viñas-Ospino, Dayana Barriga-Rodriguez, Ana María Muñoz* 

Introductory Chapter: Terpenes and Terpenoids

Terpenes in Essential Oils: Bioactivity and Applications

Sacha Inchi Seed (*Plukenetia volubilis* L.) Oil: Terpenoids

Algal Terpenoids: A Potential Source of Antioxidants

*by Umme Tamanna Ferdous and Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof*

Sesquiterpene from Myanmar Medicinal Plant (*Curcuma comosa*) *by Khun Nay Win Tun, Nanik Siti Aminah, Alfinda Novi Kristanti,* 

*by Alexandra Valencia, Frank L. Romero-Orejon,* 

Potential Antioxidant Activity of Terpenes

*Hnin Thanda Aung and Yoshiaki Takaya*

Biochemistry, the study of chemical transformations occurring within living organisms, impacts all of the life sciences, from molecular crystallography and genetics, to ecology, medicine and population biology. Biochemistry studies macromolecules - proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids –their building blocks, structures, functions and interactions. Much of biochemistry is devoted to enzymes, proteins that catalyze chemical reactions, enzyme structures, mechanisms of action and their roles within cells. Biochemistry also studies small signaling molecules, coenzymes, inhibitors, vitamins and hormones, which play roles in the life process. Biochemical experimentation, besides coopting the methods of classical chemistry, e.g., chromatography, adopted new techniques, e.g., X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, NMR, radioisotopes, and developed sophisticated microbial genetic tools, e.g., auxotroph mutants and their revertants, fermentation, etc. More recently, biochemistry embraced the 'big data' omics systems.

Initial biochemical studies have been exclusively analytic: dissecting, purifying and examining individual components of a biological system; in exemplary words of Efraim Racker, (1913 –1991) "Don't waste clean thinking on dirty enzymes." Today, however, biochemistry is becoming more agglomerative and comprehensive, setting out to integrate and describe fully a particular biological system. The 'big data' metabolomics can define the complement of small molecules, e.g., in a soil or biofilm sample; proteomics can distinguish all the proteins comprising e.g., serum; metagenomics can identify all the genes in a complex environment e.g., the bovine rumen. This Biochemistry Series will address both the current research on biomolecules, and the emerging trends with great promise.

## Contents


#### **Chapter 8 95**

Effects of Terpenes and Terpenoids of Natural Occurrence in Essential Oils on Vascular Smooth Muscle and on Systemic Blood Pressure: Pharmacological Studies and Perspective of Therapeutic Use *by Ana Carolina Cardoso-Teixeira, Klausen Oliveira-Abreu, Levy Gabriel de Freitas Brito, Andrelina Noronha Coelho-de-Souza and José Henrique Leal-Cardoso*

#### **Chapter 9 117**

Terpenoids: Lycopene in Tomatoes *by Dwi Setyorini*

Preface

Terpenes belong to the diverse class of chemical constituents isolated from materials found in nature (plants, fungi, insects, marine organisms, plant pathogens, animals and endophytes). These metabolites have simple-to-complex structures derived from Isopentyl diphosphate (IPP), dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), mevalonate and deoxyxylulose biosynthetic pathways. Terpenes play a very important role in human health and have significant biological activities (anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-allergic, skin permeation enhancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-insecticidal). According to new research, cineole (a spicy eucalyptus-derived flavoring oil) terpenes are ready to be directly converted to biofuel as soon as they are produced. This book provides an overview and highlights recent research in the phytochemical and biological understanding of terpenes and terpenoids and explains the most essential functions of these kinds

**Dr. Shagufta Perveen**

College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

**Dr. Areej Al-Taweel**

College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Distinguish Professor, FRSC-UK, Department of Pharmacognosy,

Department of Pharmacognosy,

Professor,

Professor,

of secondary metabolites isolated from natural sources.
