Terpenes are the largest and most diverse group of naturally occurring
compounds found in plants. They can be classified according to the number of
isoprene units, the most common being monoterpenes (C10), sesquiterpenes (C15),
diterpenes (C20), and triterpenes (C30). Besides being the principal constituents of
essential oils and playing fundamental roles in plants, many terpenes are extensively
used in pharmaceutical and industrial applications ranging from flavours to fragrances
and medicines. Several studies have already demonstrated the diversity of
terpenes’ biological properties, including cancer chemopreventive effects, antimicrobial,
antiviral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiparasitic, and other
activities. This chapter compiles the various terpenes isolated from plants, their
sources, biological activities and beneficial health effects, mechanism of action,
extraction and applications, and the future perspective for using the terpenes as
lead molecules in several areas of the industry.
The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT,
Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020).
L. Barros thank the national funding by FCT through the institutional scientific employment
programme-contract for their contract, while S. A. Heleno thank FCT through the individual
scientific employment programme-contracts (CEECIND/03040/2017). R. Sprea also thank to
FCT for his Ph.D. grant (2020.08092.BD).
