Secondary metabolites may not be produced under some conditions, and in most cases, their function and significance in the producing organisms is unknown. Conversely, there are some that are produced for readily understood reasons, for example, toxic substances as defensive substances against invaders, or volatile substances that attract other species of organisms. These secondary metabolites also contribute to our health. However, there has not been sufficient research to evaluate them from a pharmacological perspective, and much progress is expected in this area in the future. About 90% of the existing plants have not been studied for their chemical components and biological activities (Kazuki Saito in Bunshun shinsho 1119, pp. 119–126. ISBN 978-4-16-661119-5, 2017). On this basis, we have been searching for the constituents of unknown plants, and whose constituents have not been studied extensively. In this paper, the authors have reviewed some of their previous searching for constituents from plants in geographically characterized areas, Egypt, Madagascar, and Okinawa.

在某些条件下可能不会产生次级代谢产物，并且在大多数情况下，它们在生产生物体中的功能和意义是未知的。相反，有些是出于易于理解的原因而产生的，例如，作为抵御入侵者的防御物质的有毒物质，或吸引其他生物物种的挥发性物质。这些次级代谢产物也有助于我们的健康。然而，还没有足够的研究从药理学的角度对其进行评估，预计未来该领域将取得很大进展。大约 90% 的现有植物尚未对其化学成分和生物活性进行研究（Kazuki Saito in Bunshun shinsho 1119，pp. 119–126. ISBN 978-4-16-661119-5, 2017）。在此基础上，我们一直在寻找未知植物的成分，其成分尚未得到广泛研究。在这篇论文中，作者回顾了他们之前在埃及、马达加斯加和冲绳等具有地理特征的地区对植物成分进行的搜索。