Over the past century, the study of plant secondary metabolism has evolved from understanding the identity of chemicals in plants to exploring their localization, biosynthesis, and functions. Initially, scientists focused on identifying medicinal compounds in plants, leading to the discovery of aspirin, morphine, and other plant-derived drugs. The field has since expanded to include the study of plant hormones, chemical ecology, and plant defense mechanisms. Key advancements include the development of model species for genetic studies, such as Arabidopsis and Nicotiana, and the use of molecular biology techniques to identify and characterize biosynthetic pathways. The advent of omics technologies, including genome sequencing and metabolomics, has further advanced our understanding of plant secondary metabolism. Techniques like RNA and genome sequencing, metabolomic profiling, and single-cell transcriptomics have enabled the identification and characterization of complex biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, the study of plant secondary metabolites has provided insights into spatial control, metabolic channeling, and evolutionary mechanisms. Emerging technologies, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single-cell transcriptomics, are expected to continue driving discoveries in plant secondary metabolism research.Over the past century, the study of plant secondary metabolism has evolved from understanding the identity of chemicals in plants to exploring their localization, biosynthesis, and functions. Initially, scientists focused on identifying medicinal compounds in plants, leading to the discovery of aspirin, morphine, and other plant-derived drugs. The field has since expanded to include the study of plant hormones, chemical ecology, and plant defense mechanisms. Key advancements include the development of model species for genetic studies, such as Arabidopsis and Nicotiana, and the use of molecular biology techniques to identify and characterize biosynthetic pathways. The advent of omics technologies, including genome sequencing and metabolomics, has further advanced our understanding of plant secondary metabolism. Techniques like RNA and genome sequencing, metabolomic profiling, and single-cell transcriptomics have enabled the identification and characterization of complex biosynthetic pathways. Additionally, the study of plant secondary metabolites has provided insights into spatial control, metabolic channeling, and evolutionary mechanisms. Emerging technologies, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and single-cell transcriptomics, are expected to continue driving discoveries in plant secondary metabolism research.