The Collaborative International Dictionary
Phytochemistry \Phy"to*chem"is*try\, n. [Phyto- + chemistry.]
Chemistry in its relation to vegetable bodies; vegetable
chemistry.
--R. Hunt.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context chemistry botany English) The scientific study of the chemicals found in plants. 2 (context botany English) The collection of chemicals and chemical processes found in a particular plant.
Wikipedia
Phytochemistry is the study of phytochemicals, which are chemicals derived from plants. Specifically, phytochemistry describes the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against insect attacks and plant diseases. They also exhibit a number of protective functions for human consumers.
Phytochemistry can be considered sub-fields of Botany or Chemistry. Activities can be led in botanical gardens or in the wild with the aid of Ethnobotany. The applications of the discipline can be for Pharmacognosy, or the discovery of new drugs, or as an aid for plant physiology studies.
Phytochemistry is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering pure and applied plant chemistry, plant biochemistry and molecular biology. It is published by Elsevier and is an official publication for the Phytochemical Society of Europe and the Phytochemical Society of North America.
Usage examples of "phytochemistry".
They learned the ways of phytochemistry, of healing with herbs and mushrooms, of divining portents, of seeking with opals, and, most importantly, they were taught the Prophesy of the coming of the Dar Sala-at, the Chosen One of Müna, who would find The Pearl and use it to free the Kundalan from their bondage to the V'ornn.
They learned the ways of phytochemistry, of healing with herbs and mushrooms, of divining por-tents, of seeking with opals, and, most importantly, they were taught the Prophesy of the coming of the Dar Sala-at, the Chosen One of Mna, who would find The Pearl and use it to free the Kundalan from their bondage to the V'ornn.