eng Science and Education Publishing Biomedicine and Biotechnology 2015-03-01 3 1 8 10 10.12691/bb-3-1-2 BB2015312 article Sabitha Kandi 1 Vikram Godishala 2 Pragna Rao 3 K.V. Ramana ramana_20021@rediffmail.com 4 Department of Biochemistry, Chalmeda AnandRao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India Department of Biotechnology, Vaagdevi Degree and PG College, Warangal, Telangana, India Department of Biochemistry, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India Department of Microbiology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India Terpenes are polymers of isoprenoid units. These isoprenoid units are five carbon compounds and are favorite nature's building blocks. In terpenes these isoprenoids are arranged in a regular head to tail fashion. The side chains of Vitamin A, E, K, squalene (unsaturated hydrocarbon found in shark, humans) are all constituents of terpenes. Terpenes emit fragrances which allow them to be used as insect repellants, aids in pollination, perfume preparation, cosmetics and also has many medicinal values if used in required quantities. Adverse usage of terpenes has toxic effects like seizures, CNS depression, nausea vomiting etc. http://pubs.sciepub.com/bb/3/1/2/bb-3-1-2.pdf terpenes isoprenoid unit squalene