The
terpenoids ( ), sometimes called
isoprenoids, are a large and diverse class of naturally occurring
organic chemicals similar to
terpenes, derived from five-carbon
isoprene units assembled and modified in thousands of ways. Most are multicyclic structures that differ from one another not only in
functional groups but also in their basic carbon skeletons. These
lipids can be found in all classes of living things, and are the largest group of natural products. About 60% of known
natural products are terpenoids.