Medicinal plants: Influence of environmental factors on the content of secondary metabolites

Current research in secondary metabolites from medicinal plants should take into account the prevalence and the healing properties of which plant. These compounds have been provided opportunities to development of new drugs leads against several diseases. However, to obtain compounds from edible medicinal plants as well as that used to prepare infusions, numerous challenges are encountered including the environment and stressing factors to which the plants are submitted. Extensive phytochemicals analysis has lead to the identification of biotic and abiotic stress factors that directly influence in the metabolism of plant. This chapter provide an overview of some environmental and stressing factors that may direct the secondary metabolism in medicinal plants.