Biomedical Significance of Terpenes: An Insight

Sabitha Kandi¹, Vikram Godishala², Pragna Rao³ and K.V. Ramana^4,

¹Department of Biochemistry, Chalmeda AnandRao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana

²Department of Biotechnology, Vaagdevi Degree and PG College, Warangal, Telangana, India

³Department of Biochemistry, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India

⁴Department of Microbiology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India

Cite this paper:
Sabitha Kandi, Vikram Godishala, Pragna Rao and K.V. Ramana. Biomedical Significance of Terpenes: An Insight. Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2015; 3(1):8-10. doi: 10.12691/bb-3-1-2

Abstract

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.

Keywords:
terpenes isoprenoid unit squalene

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