Terpenoids and Terpenes: Diverse Bioactivities and Therapeutic Potential

Terpenoids and terpenes constitute one of the most structurally heterogeneous and biologically multifaceted classes of plant metabolites, being a pillar of plant-derived therapeutics. Due to their intricate chemical frameworks and broad-spectrum bioactivities, these compounds have an extensive pharmacological potential, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, and neuroprotective activities. The effects of terpenoids and terpenes acting through various molecular and cellular mechanisms modulate oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and transduction signals that are pivotal to many diseases. The recent development of metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology has improved their pharmacokinetics significantly, stability, and targeted delivery, leading to their translation from conventional medicine to contemporary clinical practice. However, standardization, mass production and extensive clinical verification related issues remain problematic. This chapter critically explains the chemical diversity, mechanistic insights, and therapeutic importance of terpenes and terpenoids, highlighting their crucial role as molecular templates for new generation drug discovery and development.