TABLE 1.

Estimated number of plant secondary metabolites (Wink, 2010).

Type of secondary metabolite	Estimated numbers
Nitrogen-containing
Alkaloids	21,000
Non-protein amino acids (NPAAs)	700
Amines	100
Cyanogenic glycosides	60
Glucosinolates	100
Alkamides	150
Lectins, peptides, polypeptides	2,000
Without nitrogen
Monoterpenes (C10)	2,500
Sesquiterpenes C15)	5,000
Diterpenes (C20)	2,500
Triterpenes, steroids, saponins	5,000
Tetraterpenes (C40)	500
Flavonoids, tannins	5,000
Phenylpropanoids, lignin, coumarins, lignans	2,000
Polyacetylenes, fatty acids, waxes	1,500
Polyketides	750
Carbohydrates	200