page_title: Natural product
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Natural product / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Hermann Emil Fischer (* 9. Oktober 1852 in Euskirchen; † 15. Juli 1919 in Berlin) Русский: химик Эмиль Герман Фишер
context_page_description: A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical synthesis and have played a central role in the development of the field of organic chemistry by providing challenging synthetic targets. The term natural product has also been extended for commercial purposes to refer to cosmetics, dietary supplements, and foods produced from natural sources without added artificial ingredients.
  Within the field of organic chemistry, the definition of natural products is usually restricted to organic compounds isolated from natural sources that are produced by the pathways of primary or secondary metabolism. Within the field of medicinal chemistry, the definition is often further restricted to secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites are not essential for survival, but nevertheless provide organisms that produce them an evolutionary advantage.
caption: Hermann Emil Fischer (1852-1919)
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