Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, and by some insects. They are also called isoprenoids—are made up of isoprene molecules. The building block is a five-carbon isoprene (CH2C(CH3)CHCH2) unit . Herbs and higher plants containing their oxidized derivatives, known as terpenoids, have been used for centuries as flavors, fragrances and pharmaceuticals. More than 22000 terpenoids are known at the present, which makes this the largest group of natural compounds. Studies in recent decades have demonstrated that terpenes exert anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimalaria, decreasing blood pressure effects. Screening against terpene compound library would provide research basis for the application of terpenoids.

TargetMol’s Terpene Natural Product Library collects 622 terpenoids including mono-, sesqui-, di-, and triterpenes, corresponding to 10, 15, 20 and 30 carbon atoms, covering research areas such as cancer, immunology, inflammation, metabolism, etc.