This book on medicinal plant biotechnology covers recent developments in this field. It includes a comprehensive up-to-date survey on established medicinal plants and on molecules which gained importance in recent years. No recently published book has covered these carefully selected topics. The contributing scientists have been selected on the basis of their involvement in the related plant material as evident by their internationally recognised published work.
This book on medicinal plant biotechnology covers recent developments in this field. It includes a comprehensive up-to-date survey on established medicinal plants and on molecules which gained importance in recent years. No recently published book has covered these carefully selected topics. The contributing scientists have been selected on the basis of their involvement in the related plant material as evident by their internationally recognised published work.
This book on medicinal plant biotechnology covers recent developments in this field. It includes a comprehensive up-to-date survey on established medicinal plants and on molecules which gained importance in recent years. No recently published book has covered these carefully selected topics. The contributing scientists have been selected on the basis of their involvement in the related plant material as evident by their internationally recognised published work.
This volume sheds new light on the immense potential of medicinal plants for human health from different technological aspects. It presents new research on bioactive compounds in medicinal plants that provide health benefits, including those that have proven especially effective in treating and managing diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It looks at the medicinal properties, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of plants and provides scientific evidence on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of certain diseases. Many of the plants described in the chapters are easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects in comparison to modern drugs in the treatment of different diseases.
Considerable progress has been made in our healthcare system, in particular with respect to sensitive diagnostic tools, reagents and very effective and precise drugs. On the other hand, high-throughput screening technology can screen vast numbers of compounds against an array of targets in a very short time, and leads thus - tained can be further explored. In developing countries, the exploding population exerts pressure not only on natural resources but also on the human population - self, whose members strive to become successful and advance in society. This leads to increased blood pressure, anxiety, obesity-associated lipid disorders, cardiov- cular diseases and diabetes. Most of these diseases result in disturbed family life, including sexual behaviour. Despite technological developments, herbal drugs still occupy a preferential place in a majority of the population in the Third World and terminal patients in the West. Herbal drugs, in addition to being cost effective and easily accessible, have been used since time immemorial and have passed the test of time without having any side effects. The multitarget effects of herbs (holistic approaches) are the fun- mental basis of their utilization. This approach is already used in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, which has become more popular in the West in recent years. However, the integration of modern science with traditional uses of herbal drugs is of the utmost importance if ones wishes to use ancient knowledge for the betterment of humanity.
Before the concept of history began, humans undoubtedly acquired life benefits by discovering medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that were food and medicine. Today, a variety of available herbs and spices are used and enjoyed throughout the world and continue to promote good health. The international market is also quite welcoming for MAPs and essential oils. The increasing environment and nature conscious buyers encourage producers to produce high quality essential oils. These consumer choices lead to growing preference for organic and herbal based products in the world market. As the benefits of medicinal and aromatic plants are recognized, these plants will have a special role for humans in the future. Until last century, the production of botanicals relies to a large degree on wild-collection. However, the increasing commercial collection, largely unmonitored trade, and habitat loss lead to an incomparably growing pressure on plant populations in the wild. Therefore, medicinal and aromatic plants are of high priority for conservation. Given the above, we bring forth a comprehensive volume, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Healthcare and Industrial Applications”, highlighting the various healthcare, industrial and pharmaceutical applications that are being used on these immensely important MAPs and its future prospects. This collection of chapters from the different areas dealing with MAPs caters to the need of all those who are working or have interest in the above topic.
When introduced to the human body, bioactive metabolites produced by plants for self defense bind to particular biochemical targets, most notably to proteins involved in signaling by hormones and neurotransmitters. This, essentially, is the basis for the effects of herbal medicine. While herbal medicine preparations may act by complex synergistic interactions, molecular explanations of herbal medicine efficacy and side effects ultimately require definition of the biochemical targets of individual plant bioactive constituents. Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds is a comprehensive and user-friendly reference guide to biochemical targets of plant defensive compounds. With 500 pages of tables, it presents a mine of succinctly summarized information relating to bioactive compound structures, plant sources, biochemical targets and physiological effects that can be readily accessed via chemical compound, plant genus, plant common name and subject indexes. With introductory chapters providing reviews of the structural diversity of plant defensive compounds and biochemistry, this book is an invaluable reference for biomedical professionals in the fields of alternative/complementary medicine, natural product chemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and botany.
"Biopharmacological Uses of Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds presents comprehensive coverage and recent advances surrounding phytopharmaceuticals, traditional and alternative systems of medicines and uses of nanotechnology in biopharmaceutical products. Sections cover the role of medicinal plants, bioactive and biophytopharmaceuticals in the management of cancer, hepatitis, HIV, analgesics, inflammation, antibacterial, viral infections, fungal infections, neurological disorders, diabetes, ENT infections, dental decay, cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, antiproliferative etc. This volume also includes biogenic synthesis of various type of nanoparticles using medical plant extracts, seaweeds, algae, and fungi for the new drug discovery. This volume sheds new light on the immense potential of medicinal plants for human health from different technological aspects. It presents new research on bioactive compounds in medicinal plants that provide health benefits, including those that have proven especially effective in treating and managing diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It looks at the medicinal properties, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of plants and provides scientific evidence on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of certain diseases. Many of the plants described in the chapters are easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects in comparison to modern drugs in the treatment of different diseases. The body of the book comprises thought-provoking and diverse chapters on the potential for utilization of plants in treating diseases of the skin and use of traditional medicine as anticancer, anti-HIV, and antibacterial agents. Each topic is introduced by providing a background on the disease, which contains updated statistics on the prevalence thereof, followed by the associated pathology, pharmacologically approved drugs currently on the market used for treatment of the disease, an array of medicinal plants used for treatment accompanied with a list of their active phytoconstituents and chemical structures thereof, as well as scientific evidence for use. This book provides key information for everyone interested in drug discovery, including medicinal chemists, nutritionists, microbiologists, biochemists, toxicologists, drug developers and health care professionals. Students, professors and researchers working in the area of pharmaceutical sciences, botany, pharmaceutical microbiology, medical microbiology and beyond will also find the book useful"--
This volume provides informative research on the scientific evidence of the health benefits that can be derived from medicinal plants and how their efficacies can be improved. It is divided into three sections that cover the phytochemistry of medicinal plants, disease management with medicinal plants, and novel research techniques in medicinal plants. The pharmacological benefits of several specific plants are discussed, addressing health issues such as metabolic and mental disorders, acute mountain sickness, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and specific diseases such as Huntington’s. It also looks at the role of antioxidants in disease management. Additionally, the book covers recent problems of drug resistance and how medicinal plants can serve as antibiotic, anthelmintic, and antiparasitic drugs that will be helpful for human and animals.
The demand for traditional medicines, herbal health products, herbal pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food supplements and herbal cosmetics etc. is increasing globally due to the growing recognition of these products as mainly non-toxic, having lesser side effects, better compatibility with physiological flora, and availability at affordable prices. In the last century, medical science has made incredible advances all over the globe. In spite of global reorganization and a very sound history of traditional uses, the promotion of traditional medicine faces a number of challenges around the globe, primarily in developed nations. Regulation and safety is the high concern for the promotion of traditional medicine. Quality issues and quality control, pharmacogivilane, scientific investigation and validation, intellectual property rights, and biopiracy are some key issues that restrain the advancement of traditional medicine around the globe. This book contains diverse and unique chapters, explaining in detail various subsections like phytomolecule, drug discovery and modern techniques, standardization and validation of traditional medicine, and medicinal plants, safety and regulatory issue of traditional medicine, pharmaceutical excipients from nature, plants for future. The contents of the book will be useful for the academicians, researchers and people working in the area of traditional medicine.
