Significance of Microbial Biomolecules, Secondary Metabolites, and Their Impact on the Diverse Aspects of Human Health

Microbial organisms intricately synthesize myriad metabolites, whose remarkable chemical properties have a substantial impact within the domains of agriculture and health care. Being an essential source of nutrition, secondary metabolites (SMs) or biomolecules such as antibiotics and growth hormones have enormous potential in human health. Bioactive molecules are synthesized by activating a specific subset of genes that are actively expressed under favorable conditions, hence augmenting chemical diversity within microbial populations. In the past few decades, a significant contribution has been made toward understanding how efficiently secondary metabolites could be used in health care. These biomolecules are routinely produced due to secondary metabolism and are categorically divided into phenols and polyphenols, terpenoids, sulfur-containing compounds, and nitrogen-containing compounds. The production of these metabolites is essential for fighting against abiotic stresses by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and stress tolerance. These metabolites are regulated by low-molecular-weight compounds, sigma factors, transfer RNAs, and often gene products from development processes. Besides strengthening the adaptability of plants, secondary metabolites are utilized as antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumoral agents and as vasodilators or constrictors and laxatives for health provision. The current state of metabolomics exhibits immense potential in identifying and developing novel plant-based secondary metabolites.