| | Name of the metabolites | Role of metabolites during desiccation in plants | References |
| | Carbohydrates: sucrose, raffinose, maltose, verbascose, stachyose, arbutin, glucosylglycerol, trehalose, and glucose | Replacing water on membranes and macromolecules by formation of anhydrous glass vitrification of the cytoplasm filling and stabilization of vacuoles and membrane proteins | [44, 52, 129, 172–175] |
| | Amino acids: glutamate, glutamine, arginine, citrulline, aspartate, asparagine, N-6-trimethyllysine, and trans-4-hydroxyproline, and the intermediate metabolites 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propionate and the tripeptide ophthalmate (L-Y-glutamyl-L-α-aminobutyrylglycine), quinate, γ-glutamyl, tryptophan, and the derivatives acetyltryptophan or phenylalanine | Biosynthetic precursors for primary and secondary metabolites | [34, 161, 170, 176] | | These amino acids could function as compatible solutes or as mobile nitrogen reserves for the rehydrating tissues | | Activation of the shikimate pathway which can result in the synthesis of antioxidants |
| | Nucleotide metabolites: allantoin, 1-methyladenosine, uridine 5′-monophosphate, and inosine | Plant stress protection by influencing ABA production, purine catabolism, and quenching ROS | [170, 176] |
| | Lipids: phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidic acid, lysolipids, fatty acids, choline phosphate, and lipoxygenase | Maintenance of membrane integrity and maintenance of membrane fluidity to allow for recovery after dehydration | [122, 129, 176, 177] |
| | Polyamines: spermidine and spermine | Membrane stabilization, enzyme activity modulation, plant growth and development, nitrogen assimilation, and respiratory metabolism. Protect ion of macromolecules | [178, 179] |
| | Antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione, etc. | Detoxify the ROS which arises during desiccation stress | [16, 156, 176] |
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