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Shikimic Acid Biosynthesis and Its Role in the Production of Aromatic Amino Acids and Bioactive Secondary Metabolites                                                                                                              Shikimic acid is a key metabolic intermediate in the shikimate pathway, a biosynthetic route found in plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria but absent in animals. The pathway begins with the condensation of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and erythrose-4-phosphate (E4P) to form 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate (DAHP), which is subsequently converted into 3-dehydroquinic acid, 3-dehydroshikimic acid, and finally shikimic acid through a series of enzyme-catalysed reactions. Following its biosynthesis, shikimic acid is phosphorylated to shikimate-3-phosphate and converted into 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP), which is subsequently transformed into chorismic acid, the final product of the shikimate pathway. Chorismic acid serves as the universal precursor for the biosynthesis of the aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. These amino acids further participate in the formation of numerous secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, lignin, tannins, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds. In brown algae such as Padina gymnospora, these metabolites play important roles in antioxidant defense, UV protection, herbivore deterrence, antimicrobial activity, and adaptation to environmental stress. Therefore, shikimic acid acts as a crucial metabolic link between primary metabolism and the biosynthesis of diverse bioactive compounds essential for growth, survival, and ecological adaptation. Key words: Shikimic acid, Shikimate pathway, Biosynthesis, Phenolic compounds, Padina gymnospora, Aromatic amino acids, Chorismic acid, Antioxidant activity.