Metabolomics of medicinal and aromatic plants: Goldmines of secondary metabolites for herbal medicine research

Plants are able to synthesize a diverse group of chemical and biological compounds known as secondary metabolites with broad-structural diversity, wide-robust pharmacological and biological activity. Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are high-value crops harboring goldmines of these secondary metabolites. The natural products obtained from these crops are low-volume high-value commodities and have been subsequently exploited by humans for their beneficial roles in traditional and modern medicine. Technological advances like metabolomics profiling have provided us with new opportunities to access these natural products in a metabolic context. Application of metabolomics in identification and profiling of MAPs would serve as a potential untouched goldmine for future herbal-based medicine and pharmacologically active compounds. Considering this, the present chapter aims to provide updated and comprehensive information about secondary metabolites in MAPs, with detailed information of the latest metabolomics databases. This documentation will definitely usher researchers in new directions of investigations for exploring cryptic biosynthetic pathway options, which can provide additional ways to harness this untapped goldmine for future herbal medicines.