Phytothérapie-Aromathérapie-Plantes médicinales

Advances in natural product chemistry have led to a large number of drugs, both derived from medicinal plants, marine plants, and animals, and created as synthetic analogues of these sources. This ground-breaking, comprehensive volume presents the latest data on the 13C-NMR of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

A Compendium of Essays on Alternative Therapy is aimed at both conventional and alternate therapy practitioners, besides serving as an educational tool for students and lay persons on the progress made in the field. While this resource is not all-inclusive, it does reflect the current theories from different international experts in the field. This will hopefully stimulate more research initiatives, funding, and critical insight in the already increasing demand for alternate therapies that has been evidenced worldwide.

Recently, new compounds from medicinal plants were discovered, and they were used as anti-severe diseases. Therefore, this book covers interested research topics dealing with isolation, purification, and identification of active ingredients from wild and medicinal plants. This discovery will lead to an increase in the global pharmaceutical market as well as open such new gate for medicinal plant research. This book will add significant information to medical researchers and can be used for postgraduate students.

Management of advanced cancers by modern therapies can be hampered by the unavailability of efficient drugs, which explains in part the high mortality rates seen in patients with advanced cancers. Alternative therapies, particularly those using formulations derived from herbal, marine and animal products, are rich sources of chemically diverse and complex molecules with the potential to discover novel drugs. Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Cancer is unique in the field, as it presents the progress and limitations of alternative therapies through an unusual interface of traditional and modern concepts assembled by recognized experts (from China, India, USA, Canada, and Europe) in medical oncology, alternative medicine, cancer pharmacology and medicinal chemistry. Current developments from clinical and regulatory perspectives are presented, areas of controversy and potential integration of alternative and complementary therapies are highlighted, and future perspectives for the discovery of herbal constituents that may complement anticancer drugs are discussed.

We are in constant search for new therapeutic options to cure cancer. In this book, you can find out how scientists throughout the world deal with this problem. Readers will learn how to engage nature, chemical synthesis, and cell machinery to design new anticancer agents. Nature has already been very generous in providing us different compounds which are in widespread application. Starting from these resources, various synthetic processes are applied to create synthetic drugs which can be then obtained in large quantities. Also, the cell by itself provides different possibilities to meet the constantly increasing requirements for successful therapy. Explore the book and find out what are the new ways to fight cancer

Nature is a generous source of compounds with the potential to treat diseases, including infectious diseases, which is of utmost importance for modern medicine as antimicrobial resistances increase. Known sources of natural compounds with valuable antimicrobial activity include medicinal plants, and marine and terrestrial organisms such as fungi and bacteria. Nevertheless, there is still a vast fauna and flora that, once systematically explored, could provide additional antimicrobial leads and drugs.

Investigators are welcome to contribute original research and/or review articles in this area, specifically with studies exploiting the mechanism of action and the structure-activity aspects of natural compounds with antimicrobial activity that provide insights into potential ways to overcome antimicrobial resistance.

The human system employs the use of endogenous enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic antioxidant defence systems against the onslaught of free radicals and oxidative stress. Enzymatic antioxidants and non-enzymatic antioxidants work synergistically with each other, using different mechanisms against different free radicals and stages of oxidative stress. Dietary and lifestyle modifications are seen as the mainstay of treatment and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The major aims of dietary and lifestyle changes are to reduce weight, improve glycaemic control and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, which accounts for 70- 80% of deaths among those with diabetes. It is also important to note that medicinal plants have been used as medicines since ancient time, and continue to play significant role even in modern medicine in management and treatment of chronic diseases. Impressive numbers of modern therapeutic agents have been developed from plants. Phytochemicals have been isolated and characterised from fruits such as grapes and apples, vegetables such as broccoli and onion, spices such as turmeric, beverages such as green tea and red wine, as well as many other sources. The WHO estimates that approximately 80% of the worlds inhabitants rely on traditional medicine for their primary health care and many medicinal plants have ethno-medical claims of usefulness in the treatment of diabetes and other chronic diseases globally, and have been employed empirically in antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antihypertensive, antinflammatory and antiparasitic remedies. This book examines the role of antioxidant-rich natural products in management and treatment of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

The scientific world and modern society today is experiencing the dawning of an era of herbal medicine. Extensive research has shown that aromatic plants are important anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti aging and immune boosting delectable foods, with the magic and miracle to boost our immune system providing us with extended and an improved quality of life. Apart from making bland recipes into welcoming or interesting victories, herbs and spices have stirred the minds of the research community to look deeper into its active components from a functional perspective. It is essential to present the scientific and medicinal aspect of herbs and spices together with the analysis of constituents, its medicinal application, toxicology and its physiological effects. Herbs and spices with high levels of antioxidants are in great demand as they tend to promote health and prevent diseases naturally assuring increased safety and reliability for consumers. Herbs and spices are not only known for taste and flavor, but today research has opened up a new realm in which the antioxidant properties of these aromatic plants provide preservation for foods and health benefits for consumers who look forward to concrete scientific research to guide them further and explore herbal medicine.

The aim of this book is to create awareness in society about the reliability of medicinal properties of certain herbs and spices through scientific and scholarly research.

This book covers interesting research topics and the use of natural resources for medical treatments in some severe diseases. The most important message is to have native foods which contain high amount of active compounds that can be used as a medicinal plant. Most pharmaceutical drugs were discovered from plants, and still ongoing research will have to predict such new active compounds as anti-diseases. I do believe this book will add significant knowledge to medical societies as well as can be used for postgraduate students.

Berries are popularly consumed worldwide as fresh, processed, and other derived forms. Research conducted over the last decade and a half has provided significant and convincing evidence to support the cancer preventive potential of these colorful fruits. Berries and their phytochemical constituents work through multiple mechanisms to reduce the malignant properties of cancer cells in laboratory studies. Further, diets of various berry formulations, including freeze dried berries, have been shown to prevent cancer in animals, and recent data indicate that they also exhibit cancer preventive effects in humans. Providing an unprecedented compilation of current information, this book, Berries and Cancer Prevention: 1) Describes the major groups of bioactive compounds in berries and their antioxidant potential 2) Describes the cancer inhibitory effects of berry extracts and individual components in vitro, and discusses their mechanisms of action on a cellular and molecular level 3) Discusses the cancer-inhibitory effects of berries and berry components on tumor development in animals 4) Discusses recent results on the cancer-inhibitory effects of berries and berry components in humans and describes their mechanisms of action; 5) Discusses the relative merits of the use of whole berries, freeze-dried berries, berry extracts and individual berry components for cancer prevention, particularly in humans. The editors anticipate that this book would be useful for researchers, academicians and trainees associated with departments of nutrition, dietetics, food science and technology, cancer biology, cancer prevention, public health, family medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, etc. It should also be useful for practitioners, dieticians, and others involved in daily patient health care. We also expect that individuals involved in various roles in the berry industry including berry production, product development, marketing and sales, would benefit from this book. The public has a strong interest in healthy foods and dietary interventions for cancer prevention, and we hope that many of those individuals will also find this book of great interest.

During the last decade, a high volume of work has been published on the health promoting effects of berries (e.g., blueberries, cranberries, blackberries,
etc.) that are rich in antioxidant
phytochemicals, polyphenols. Consuming a diet rich in polyphenols has been documented to attenuate the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, diabetes mellitus,
and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent evidence also reveals that the biological effects of polyphenols extend beyond their traditional antioxidant role.This Special Issue includes 10 peer
-reviewed papers, including original research papers and reviews. They present the most recent a
dvances in the role of berry antioxidants, not only in maintaining health but also in preventing and/or reversing disease both in cell culture, animal models and in humans. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways modulated by
berry antioxidants are presented. Chapters include the role of berry antioxidants in whole fruit and leaves on the metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes and glucose intolerance, cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress and neuroprotection as well as cardiovascular disease. As a guest editor, I would like to acknowledge the authors of all chapters for their valuable contributions and reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive suggestions and time. Special thanks to the publishing team of the Antioxidants Journal for their professionalism, attention to detail and timely completion of this volume

The high rate of urbanization and a steady increase in per capita income has improved the socio-economic status of people all over the world. This has resulted in drastic changes in their lifestyle and food consumption patterns, where traditional foods are being replaced with more ready-made junk foods with few servings of fresh vegetables and fruits. It has been postulated that industrialization has caused change in food choice, dietary pattern modification and resulted in a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, contaminated foods with unsafe microbes and chemical hazards are increasing. All of these events have resulted in an increased risk of cancer, the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.
This book will provide a basic understanding of cancer, its risk factors, preventive measures, and possible treatments currently available, as well as identifying the different dietary factors that might synergize with a sedentary lifestyle in the etiology of cancer, and its prevention measure.

There are significant concerns regarding the potential side effects from the chronic use of conventional drugs such as corticosteroids, especially in children. Herbal therapy is less expensive, more readily available, and increasingly becoming common practice all over the world. Such practices have both their benefits and risks. However, herbal self-therapy might have serious health consequences due to incorrect self-diagnosis, inappropriate choice of herbal remedy or adulterated herbal product. In addition, absence of clinical trials and other traditional safety mechanisms before medicines are introduced to the wider market results in questionable safe dosage ranges which may produce adverse and unexpected outcomes. Therefore, the use of herbal remedies requires sufficient knowledge about the efficacy, safety and proper use of such products. Hence, it is necessary to have baseline data regarding the use of herbal remedies and to educate future health professionals about various aspects of herbal remedies.

Marine natural products have attracted the attention of biologists and chemists the world over for the past five decades. As a result of the potential for new drug discovery, marine natural products have attracted scientists from different disciplines, such as organic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, pharmacology, biology and ecology. This interest has led to the discovery of almost 16,000 marine natural products to date and many of the compounds have shown very promising biological activity. The ocean is considered to be a great source of potential drugs.
Bioactive Marine Natural Products is the first book available that covers all aspects of bioactive marine natural products. It fills the void in the literature for bioactive marine natural products. The book covers various aspects of marine natural products and it is hoped that all the major classes of bioactive compounds are included. Different classes of marine organisms and the separation and isolation techniques are discussed. The chemistry and biology of marine toxins, peptides, alkaloids, nucleosides and prostanoids are discussed in detail. Biological, toxicological and clinical evaluations are also dealt with to ensure that the book may be adopted at any stage by any practicing organic chemist or biologist, working in academia or in R&D divisions of pharmaceutical companies. Each chapter in the book includes an abstract to highlight the major points discussed in the text and concluding remarks are given. References to books, monographs, review articles and original papers are provided at the end of each chapter.

Use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization and continuous efforts are being made to improve medicinal plants or produce their products in high amounts through various technologies. About 200,000 natural products of plant origin are known and many more are being identifed from higher plants and microorganisms. Some plant-based drugs have been used for centuries and there is no alternative medicine for many drugs, such as cardiac glycosides. However, natural products research was sidelined to pave the way for com- natorial chemistry, which was expected to produce large numbers of synthetic compounds for high-throughput screening (HTS). This line of work has failed to deliver desirable results. Moreover, it is not possible for all pharmaceutical companies and institutions to adopt costly HTS technology. Therefore, medi- nal plants and their bioactive molecules are always in demand and are a central point of research. While planning this book, we endeavored to incorporate - ticles that cover the entire gamut of current medicinal plants research. The aim of this book was to review the current status of bioactive molecules and medicinal plants research in light of the surge in the demand for herbal medicine. The chapters focus on bioactive molecules (e.g., stilbenes and p- toestrogens) and on medicinal plants as a whole (e.g., Bacopa monnierie). We hope that this book will be useful for researchers in academia, industry, and agriculture planning.

Bioassay Methods in Natural Product Research and Drug Development contains the proceedings from the Phytochemical Society of Europe's very successful symposium on this topic, held August 24-27, 1997 in Uppsala, Sweden.
In this volume, leading academic and industrial scientists discuss novel methods for assaying natural products to find new structure-activity relationships. Of key importance in this process is the availability and reliability of specific bioassay methods, but chapters also discuss chemical and biological diversity and how to dereplicate natural product extracts to increase efficiency in lead discovery.
Anti-tumor, HIV-inhibitory, antiprotozoal, anti-infective and immunomodulatory natural products are discussed. Various industrial projects are presented for the first time.
This volume bridges the gap between academic and industrial research and scientists, and should be required reading in drug companies and faculties of pharmacy, as well as serving scientists in pharmacognosy, pharmacology, phytochemistry, natural products and drug discovery.

Marine organisms have been under research for the last decades as a source for different active compounds with various biological activities and application in agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, environment, and industries. Marine polysaccharides from these active compounds are used as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, bioremediations, etc. During the last three decades, several important factors that control the production of phytoplankton polysaccharides have been identified such as chemical concentrations, temperature, light, etc. The current book includes 14 chapters contributed by experts around the world; the chapters are categorized into three sections: Marine Polysaccharides and Agriculture, Marine Polysaccharides and Biological Activities, and Marine Polysaccharides and Industries.

Many macro and micro species, from terrestrial and aquatic environments, produce structurally unique compounds and, in many countries, still are the primary sources of medicines. In fact, secondary metabolites are an important source of chemotherapeutic agents but are also lead compounds for synthetic modification and the optimization of biological activity. Therefore, the exploitation of secondary metabolites, or their inspired synthetic compounds, offers excellent opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry. This Medicines Special Issue focuses on the great potential of secondary metabolites for therapeutic application. The Special Issue contains 16 articles reporting relevant experimental results, and an overview of bioactive secondary metabolites, their biological effects, and new methodologies that improve and accelerate the process of obtained lead compounds with regard to new drug development. We would like to thank all 83 authors, from all over the world, for their valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

This book discusses cancers and the resurgence of public interest in plant-based and herbal drugs. It also describes ways of obtaining anti-cancer drugs from plants and improving their production using biotechnological techniques. It presents methods such as cell culture, shoot and root culture, hairy root culture, purification of plant raw materials, genetic engineering, optimization of culture conditions as well as metabolic engineering with examples of successes like taxol, shikonin, ingenol mebutate and podophylotoxin. In addition, it describes the applications and limitations of large-scale production of anti-cancer compounds using biotechnological means. Lastly, it discusses future economical and eco-friendly strategies for obtaining anti-cancer compounds using biotechnology.

The fruit and nut crops are laden with health benefits. As people are becoming more conscious about their health and nutritional uptake, the worldwide demand and consumption of fruit and nut crops are steadily increasing. This has made it hard to keep pace between the rate of fruit and nut production and its consumption. To meet this increasing demand, there is a need to produce improved, better yielding, and high-quality fruit and nut crops. This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of fruit and nut crops. Such information covered in this book will directly enhance both basic and applied research in fruit and nut crops and will particularly be useful for students, scientists, researchers, teachers, breeders, policy-makers, and growers.

In recent years, cannabis research has concentrated on the potential of cannabinoids as therapeutic substances, particularly in serious chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Most volumes published on cannabinoids so far concentrate on the biological activity, biochemistry and pharmacology, whereas this volume concentrates on the diseases, the physiological effects and therapeutic use of cannabinoids. The volume editor Prof. Mechoulam was the first who isolated the prime active constituent (THC, Tetrahydrocannabiol) of marijuana. He published extensively on the pharmacological activities of cannabinoids. The volume is of interest to researchers and clinicians from pharmacology, neuroscience, and medicinal research.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cannabinoid activity in human physiology and points out the importance of endocannabinoid system for the maintenance of human health and treatment of diseases. Each chapter has been organized with the aim to cover basic concepts in the modulation of endocannabinoid system in both physiological and pathological conditions, thanks to the integration of data from experimental animal models and clinical observations. A special focus has been put on the medical use of cannabinoids and on the targeting of endocannabinoid system as new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of human diseases. Taken together, this book targets a wide audience of basic and clinical scientists, teachers and students interested in gaining a better understanding in the field of cannabinoids.

The enormous field of this topic is clearly shown by the following facts: during the last ten years (2007-2016) around 500 papers/ year and 523 review articles are listed in the PubMed database on capsaicin, and over 200/year are under keywords of "capsaicin human". Recently, two major studies on the mortality of consumers of spicy food containing capsaicin and nonconsumers (over 350000 men and women aged 30-79 with heart disease, cancer, and stroke at baseline over 3.5 million person-years, 2004-2013) showed that the relative risk in total mortality was reduced by 14% in 10 diverse geographic areas of China (2015). Similarly, in the USA, (16,179 participants during over 2,70,000 person/year with the median of 18.9 years) the total mortality was reduced by 13% in populations consuming hot chili (2017). Recently, the book series "Progress in Drug Research" the 68th volume dealt for the first time on "Capsaicin as a Therapeutic Molecule" (Springer, Basel, 2014). Five excellent chapters are found in this book dealing with procedures of capsaicin from capsicum plants, emerging technologies to improve capsaicin delivery, capsaicinoid diversity and its human food preference, capsaicin and lipid metabolism, and predictors in treatment response to capsaicin. The results of these observations clearly indicate that the capsaicin research has changed direction to include human medical treatment with capsaicin. The book gathers knowledge from experts in basic and clinical sciences, pharmacologists, in the nutrition and food industry, in the drug industry, technologists, plant cultivators, as well as experts across a wide scale of medical branches.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is the world's most comprehensive alternative and complementary medicine. With the rising morbidity of serious illnesses like diabetes, infertility, silicosis, etc., there are no highly effective treatments; even though Western medicine has made spectacular advances, this influenced us to seek Chinese medical therapies of health care. This book offers a unique perspective of Chinese medicine theories and therapies. It has practical chapters on diabetes, infertility, silicosis, kidney essence, and a compilation of contraindicated Chinese medicines for pregnancy. TCM is a treasure, and this ancient wisdom should be respected and applied to the modern medical system; it will provide more choices and a wider field of vision for Western medicine at the two cognitive crossroads of East and West.

Natural products are a constant source of potentially active compounds for the treatment of various disorders. The Middle East and tropical regions are believed to have the richest supplies of natural products in the world. Plant derived secondary metabolites have been used by humans to treat acute infections, health disorders and chronic illness for tens of thousands of years. Only during the last 100 years have natural products been largely replaced by synthetic drugs. Estimates of 200 000 natural products in plant species have been revised upward as mass spectrometry techniques have developed. For developing countries the identification and use of endogenous medicinal plants as cures against cancers has become attractive. Books on drug discovery will play vital role in the new era of disease treatment using natural products.

This book offers an integrated review of the most recent trends in natural products drug discovery and key lead candidates that are outstanding for their chemistry and biology as a starting point in novel drug development. The authors focus on different trends that are and will continue to be impacting multiples stages of modern drug discovery from NPs that have not been included in other works. This is complemented with a series of case studies from leading experts from industry and academia on key molecules and derivatives that have been chosen for their novelty in chemistry, biology and clinical applications. The book intends to reflect the current confluence of different disciplines in chemical biology and synthetic chemistry supported by a more profound knowledge of systems biology that ensures the concurrency and synergisms of expertise from different research fields that impact in the discovery of novel molecules. In the first section the chapters reflect recent approaches to exploit the biosynthetic potential of microbial resources (including genome mining, metagenomic and epigenetic approaches), as well as biosynthetic chemistry tools to respond to product supply and novel screening alternatives that have lead to the discovery of novel chemistry. The second part reviews, in the form of case studies, some examples of bioactive molecules in the important therapeutic areas of antiinfectives, oncology and antiparasitics.

Drug discovery originating in Africa has the potential to provide significantly improved treatment of endemic diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. This book critically reviews the current status of drug discovery research and development in Africa, for diseases that are a major threat to the health of people living in Africa. Compiled by leading African and international experts, this book presents the science and strategies of modern drug discovery. It explores how the use of natural products and traditional medicines can benefit from conventional drug discovery approaches, and proposes solutions to current technological, infrastructural, human resources, and economic challenges, which are presented when attempting to engage in full-scale drug discovery. Topics addressed are varied; from African medicinal plants to marine bioprospecting, pharmacogenetics and the use of nanotechnology. This book brings together for the first time a collection of strategies and techniques that need to be considered when developing drugs in an African setting. It is an unprecedented and truly international effort, highlighting the remarkable effort made so far in the area of drug discovery research by African scientists, and scientists from other parts of the world working on African health problems.

This book, Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy provides a full picture of research in the area of pharmacognosy with the goal of drug discovery from natural products based on the traditional knowledge or practices. Several plants that have been used as food show their potential as chemopreventive agents and the claims of many medicinal plants used in traditional medicine are now supported by scientific studies. Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy is a promising road map which will help us find medicine for all!

This set of six volumes provides a systematic and standardized description of 23,033 chemical components isolated from 6,926 medicinal plants, collected from 5,535 books/articles published in Chinese and international journals. A chemical structure with stereo-chemistry bonds is provided for each chemical component, in addition to conventional information, such as Chinese and English names, physical and chemical properties. It includes a name list of medicinal plants from which the chemical component was isolated. Furthermore, abundant pharmacological data for nearly 8,000 chemical components are presented, including experimental method, experimental animal, cell type, quantitative data, as well as control compound data. The seven indexes allow for complete cross-indexing. Regardless whether one searches for the molecular formula of a compound, the pharmacological activity of a compound, or the English name of a plant, the information in the book can be retrieved in multiple ways.

This book deals with eternal life by traditional Chinese medicine and herbs, treasures of Asia via one belt and one road. This book covers key areas of traditional Chinese medicine, modern medicine, traditional herbs, traditional fruits etc. This book contains various materials suitable for students, researchers and academicians of this area.

In 1860, Oliver Wendell Holmes pointedly expressed himself to the Massachusetts Medical Society: “I firmly believe that if the whole Material Medica, as now used, could be sunk to the bottom of the sea, it would be all the better for mankind, and all the worst for the fishes.” Should one think the same about the current approach in drug discovery from plants? Probably yes. Despite the spending of billions of US dollars, and three decades of efforts, high-throughput screenings have only allowed the discovery of a couple of drugs. One could have reasonably expected the discovery of an arsenal of drugs from the millions of plant extracts randomly tested, but “hits” can be inactive in vitro or too toxic, some molecules need to be metabolized first to be active, and false-positive and false-negative results are common. The bitter truth is that the robotic approach in discovering drugs from plants has proven, to date, its inability to excavate the hundreds of molecules that will contribute to the health progress of Man. However, one can reasonably see that the last patches of primary rainforest on earth hold still hundreds of spectacularly active drugs that await discovery.

Cancer is one of the leading killers in the world and the incidence is increasing, but most cancer patients and cancer survivors suffer much from the disease and its conventional treatments’ side effects. In the past, clinical data showed that some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) possessed anticancer abilities, but some clinicians and scientists have queried about the scientific validity of CAM due to the lack of scientific evidence. There is great demand in the knowledge gap to explore the scientific and evidence-based knowledge of CAM in the anticancer field. With this aim, a book series is needed to structurally deliver the knowledge to readers.

Recently there have been encouraging results from both laboratory experiments and clinical trials demonstrating the anticancer effects of herbal medicine. There is considerable interest among oncologists and cancer researchers to find anticancer agents in herbal medicine. This volume is a specialised book presenting the up-to-date scientific evidence for anticancer herbal medicine. This unique book provides an overview of the anticancer herbal medicines and remedies, as well as a detailed evidence-based evaluation of 18 common anticancer herbal medicines covering their biological and pharmacological properties, efficacies, herb-drug interactions, adverse effects, pre-clinical studies, and clinical applications.

Gathering international opinion leaders’ views, this volume will contribute great to the cancer, academic, and clinical community by providing evidence-based information on the anticancer efficacy of herbal medicine.

Readership
Oncologists, cancer researchers, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical specialists, Chinese medicine practitioners, medical educators, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates in biomedical disciplines, cancer caregivers, cancer patients.

This book intends to strike a balance between developments in pharmacotherapy research and the facts that researchers must absorb, as well as link scientific advances with clinical practice so that the management of diseases can be based on sound physiological concepts. Each chapter has been reviewed and new authors have brought up-to-date research to make the book more informative, illustrative, and easy to read. The book focuses on three major areas: Experimental, preclinical, and clinical applications of herbal medicine; Evidence-based strategies in emergency medicine and New approach in management of psychiatric disorders. The first three chapters describe new and modern applications of common herbs for treatment of several inflammatory and skin disorders, e.g. ulcerative colitis, bronchial asthma, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, and melasma. Chapter four deals with the most severe hypertensive states that pose an immediate threat to life, and how to manage these situations. The fifth chapter is dedicated to tackling polypharmacy psychiatric disorders. We hope this book is useful to a wide range of readers, from students first learning about pharmacotherapy, through advanced clinicians and researchers who are looking for a review of current treatments and conceptualizations of the condition. It is our hope that this book may motivate readers to approach the evidence on pharmacotherapy with an open mind, and thereby spark an interest in initiating further contributions to the current scientific debate and treatment development efforts.

Negli ultimi anni la Farmacognosia ha conosciuto una grande evoluzione grazie a nuove tecniche e a nuovi strumenti d’indagine. In particolare si sono notevolmente ampliate le conoscenze scientifiche sulle piante medicinali. Tali nozioni chimiche, botaniche e farmacologiche sono raccolte in quest’opera rivolta non solo agli studenti, ai farmacisti, ai medici e agli erboristi, ma anche ai fitochimici e ai farmacologi impegnati nelle università e nelle industrie farmaceutiche.

La nuova edizione conserva la struttura della precedente ma ne aggiorna profondamente i contenuti. Particolare attenzione è stata dedicata all’impiego terapeutico e agli effetti indesiderati delle diverse droghe vegetali. Un formulario fitoterapico, un indice terapeutico e un vasto apparato iconografico arricchiscono il volume in modo chiaro ed esauriente.

In questa versione rinnovata i lettori possono trovare l’opera di Farmacognosia più completa e moderna oggi disponibile.

Il processo di identificazione è per una droga vegetale di enorme importanza ai fini dell'efficacia e sicurezza della stessa. Infatti la risposta terapeutica e gli effetti indesiderati sono fortemente condizionati dall'identificazione della droga e dalla presenza di contaminanti botanici.
Il testo si compone di due parti; la prima sintetizza gli aspetti diagnostici che indirizzano verso il riconoscimento della droga vegetale, mentre la seconda descrive gli aspetti macro- e microscopici della droga ed i saggi chimici e farmacologici che consentono con certezza l’identificazione della stessa. Infine, l’ultima parte riporta alcuni esempi di cromatogrammi e di tracciati di organi isolati.
Il volume sarà utile agli studenti e a tutti coloro che, per la loro attività professionale, devono identificare le droghe vegetali ed evidenziare eventuali corpi vegetali estranei.

L’uso dei fitoterapici è oggi diffuso in ampi strati della popolazione per risolvere problemi sia acuti che cronici, sia banali che molto seri , e per scopi salutistici. Sappiamo che i fitoterapici si possono ottenere senza una prescrizione medica, e che si trovano, oltre che in farmacia, anche in erboristeria e nei supermercati come integratori alimentari. E’ fondamentale quindi sorvegliare sulla sicurezza di questi prodotti attraverso la fitofarmacovigilanza, che richiede conoscenze approfondite circa la natura del fitoterapico, i suoi componenti chimici ed il modo in cui questo è stato preparato ed usato. Medici, farmacisti, erboristi, e i consumatori stessi troveranno in questo manuale utili informazioni sulle reazioni avverse (ADRs) da fitoterapici; le industrie del settore erboristico, e soprattutto il legislatore e gli organi deputati al controllo troveranno stimoli per migliorare la sicurezza d’uso di questi farmaci naturali.

Negli ultimi anni la fitoterapia si è arricchita di un certo numero di prodotti vegetali che in commercio possono trovarsi come specialità medicinali, farmaci da banco, prodotti galenici o semplicemente come prodotti erboristici. L’intento di questo aggiornamento della seconda edizione di Fitofarmacia è quello di mettere a disposizione di medici, farmacisti ed erboristi, nonchè agli studenti uno strumento moderno, ma anche semplice, che possa fornire informazioni essenziali e scientificamente provate sul corretto impiego dei prodotti fitoterapici.La nuova edizione risulta notevolmente ampliata in tutte le sue parti, sia per la stesura di nuovi capitoli e appendici, sia per il rifacimento di alcuni capitoli che richiedevano un aggiornamento ed una trattazione più approfondita; include inoltre numerose figure di piante medicinali e schemi che sintetizzano in modo semplice, ma nel contempo esauriente, i meccanismi d’azione di numerose droghe vegetali, riassumendo così in chiave moderna, alla luce dei progressi realizzati nel campo della farmacologia, antichi concetti di fitoterapia.

Naturally-occurring compounds have been, and continue to be, an important source of new leads and of commercially successful products for various industrial sectors, notably pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The conference, Functional Molecules from Natural Sources, held at Magdalen College, Oxford, in July 2009 set out to highlight current trends, challenges and successes in the exploitation of natural products from microbial, plant and marine sources. Based on the proceedings of this conference, the main themes of this book are modern and emerging perspectives on natural product utilization and improved strategies for natural products exploitation. It provides case studies on important natural product leads (functional molecules) and their enhancement. These take account of new medical applications, and advances in the understanding and manipulation of natural product biosynthesis at the genetic level. Highlights include an authoritative review of the entire field of natural anticancer agents, (with an emphasis on those currently in clinical development); an account of the optimisation of the pleuromutilin antibiotic template for human use, and a comprehensive description of the research programme that resulted in the discovery of platensimycin. Aricles on biosynthesis include studies of the antibiotics of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), the anthrax siderophore petrobactin, and the modification of oxidation and glycosylation events in the biosynthesis of mithramycins. Written by leading industrial experts from each sector, the book offers a unique blend of industrial and academic perspectives. It summarizes new approaches to optimising the exploitation of naturally occurring compounds within the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and agrochemicals industries. New approaches to optimising the exploitation of naturally occurring compounds (including the genetics of natural product biosynthesis), novel screening technologies and recent advances in characterization methods are also covered.

The name "Allium" is said to come from the Greek word to avoid because of its offensive smell. The genus Allium includes more than 800 species of which only a few have been cultivated as foods. Many of the other members of this genus are popular with gardeners as easy to maintain perennials, although the smell of some members of the genus can be off-putting. The smell is a consequence of breakdown of sulfur-containing compounds which is a characteristic of this family of plants. Garlic, onions, leeks, chives and other members of the genus Allium occupy a unique position both as edible plants and herbal medicines, appreciated since the dawn of civilization. Alliums have been featured through the ages in literature, where they are both praised and reviled, as well as in architecture and the decorative arts. Garlic pills are top-selling herbal supplements while garlic-based products show considerable promise as environmentally friendly pesticides. The remarkable properties of the alliums can be understood based on the occurrence of a number of relatively simple sulfur-containing chemical compounds ingeniously packaged by nature in these plants. This unique book, with a foreword by 1990 Nobel Laureate E.J. Corey, outlines the extensive history and the fascinating past and present uses of these plants, sorting out fact from fiction based upon detailed scrutiny of historic documents as well as numerous laboratories studies. Readers will be entertained and educated as they learn about early cultivation of garlic and other alliums while being introduced to the chemistry and biochemistry. They will learn how alliums have been portrayed and used in literature, poetry, the arts and how alliums are featured in the world's oldest cookbook. Technical material is presented in a manner understandable to a general audience, particularly through the use of illustrations to simplify more difficult concepts and explain how experimental work is conducted. The book is heavily illustrated with examples of alliums in art, literature, agriculture, medicine and other areas and includes rare botanical drawings of many members of the genus Allium. Essential reading for anyone with a general interest in science, the book is written at a level accessible to experts and non-experts alike. It has sufficient additional detail and references to satisfy both those wanting to know more, as well as researchers in disciplines as diverse as archaeology, medicine, ecology, pharmacology, food and plant sciences, agriculture, and organic chemistry.

Finding alternatives to fossil feedstocks is increasing in importance with the challenges of global warming, increasing oil prices and depleting fossil fuel reserves that we currently face. Today, plant oils are important renewable raw materials for the chemical industry and are heavily used for surfactants, cosmetic products and lubricants.

This book covers the green chemistry of products and intermediates synthesised from plant oils. Photo-initiated polymerisation and polymerization of vegetable oils in environmental media are covered as well as click reactions to chemically modify vegetable oils. Useful products from plant oils such as polymers, biomaterials, biofibres and lubricants, as well as their further applications, are described.

This book is a valuable resource for researchers in academia and industry, biomass producers and suppliers and manufacturers of end-products.

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.

Evidence based herbal drugs are on hi-acceptance day by day due to health friendly nature compared to synthetic drugs. The active ingredients in herbal drugs are different chemical classes, e.g. alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, steroids, terpenes etc., are identified at molecular level using current analytical practices, which are unique characteristic, as finger, so known as fingerprints. The fingerprints are used for assessment of quality consistency and stability by visible observation and comparison of the standardized fingerprint pattern, have scientific potential to decipher the claims made on these drugs for authenticity and reliability of chemical constituents, with total traceability, which starts from the proper identification, season and area of collection, storage, their processing, stability during processing, and rationalizing the combinational in case of polyherbal drugs. These quality oriented documents have ample scientific logics so well accepted globally by regulatory authorities and industries, to determine intentional/ unintentional contamination, adulteration, pollutants, stability, quality, etc. parameters. Based on geo-climatic factors, a same plant species has different pharmacological properties due to different ingredients; such regional and morphological variations are identified by fingerprints, at the time of collection of the medicinal herb. The chromatographic (TLC, HPTLC, HPLC, GC,) and spectral (UV-Vis., FTIR, MNR, MS, LC-MS, GC-MS etc.) techniques have world-wide strong scientific approval as validated methods to generate the fingerprints of different chemical classes of active ingredients of herbal drugs. Presently there is a need for a book having all the fingerprinting techniques for herbal drugs at a place with theory, case studies and art to discover patentable forms. The present book is a mile stone in the subject, to be utilized by Scientists, Medical Doctors, Technicians, Industrialists, Researchers, and Students both in PG and UG levels.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states have caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. This volume focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular effects of selected herbs and their relation to clinical outcome and promotion of human health. This book also addresses the ethical challenges of using herbal medicine and its integration into modern, evidence-based medicine.

Drawing from the work of leading international researchers in different fields, this book contains an in-depth scientific examination of effects of individual herbs, as well as their use in the treatment of important diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, dermatologic disorders, neurodegenerative disease, and diabetes. Due to the strong associations among oxidative stress, ageing, and disease, the powerful antioxidant properties of herbs and spices are also examined. The herbs featured are some of the most widely used remedies and cover a wide range, including flowering herbs, fruits and berries, roots and rhizomes, and fungi.

To help bring a new level of quality control to the production of herbal extracts, the use of mass spectrometry and chemometric fingerprinting technology in the authentication of herbs is also presented. As the need for effective, affordable health promotion and treatment increases, especially in the growing ageing population, there is demand for rigorous scientific examination of herbal medicines. This timely and comprehensive volume addresses this need and is an important text for medical professionals and researchers, as well as those interested in herbal or complementary medicine.

Herbal Products: Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Second Edition builds upon the informative foundation laid by its predecessor. This fully revised and expanded second edition boasts over 200 new references that document efficacy studies and adverse effects and four new chapters devoted to dietary products. Practitioners and researchers will find that this volume is a comprehensive resource for objective clinical information about the potential uses, efficacy, and safety of herbal medicines. The authors recognize that the majority of available information on dietary supplements is typically provided by distributors and designed to sell a product rather than objectively inform consumers; therefore, the emphasis throughout is on information not readily available from any other source. Similar to the first edition, this volume is based on original studies published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and other high-quality assessments by recognized experts.

In an easy to use dictionary style of A–Z presentation, this volume lists the taxonomy and medicinal usage of Indian plants. Also given are both traditional Indian and international synonyms along with details of the habitats of the plants.
Indian Medicinal Plants. An Illustrated Dictionary is aimed at bringing out an updated Acute Study Dictionary of plant sources of Indian medicine.
The text is based on authentic treatises which are the outcome of scientific screening and critical evaluation by eminent scholars. Readers, if they so desire, can always refer back to a particular research paper cited in the original source.
The text is illustrated by over 550 full-color figures.

soflavones remain the subject of many scientific studies most of which reveal them to have some health benefits. Coverage within this book begins with an overview of phytoestrogens in health and plants with specific reference to isoflavones, how isoflavones are found in the diet and novel compounds in nuts. Expert accounts of the chemical and biochemical research on this topic are provided followed by analytical and bioanalytical assessments. Rounding up the book are the chapters on function and effects of isoflavones which provide details on isoflavones in beverages, soy and soy products and other food delivery systems and how their function effects the thyroid, menopause, prostate, breast, bone and cardiovascular disease to name but a few. Delivering high quality information, this extensive and detailed book provides a fascinating insight into this area of health and nutritional science. It will bridge scientific disciplines so that the information is more meaningful and applicable to health in general. Part of a series of books, it is specifically designed for chemists, analytical scientists, forensic scientists, food scientists, dieticians and health care workers, nutritionists, toxicologists and research academics. Due to its interdisciplinary nature it could also be suitable for lecturers and teachers in food and nutritional sciences and as a college or university library reference guide.

Le droghe vegetali, a differenza dei farmaci di sintesi (o artificiali), contengono più sostanze farmacologicamente attive: tra queste si stabiliscono dei sinergismi e degli antagonismi che caratterizzano l’azione terapeutica del preparato vegetale (fitoterapico). Tuttavia, per molte droghe vegetali queste interazioni non sono state ancora del tutto chiarite e tuttora se ne ignora il meccanismo d’azione. Non lasciamoci però travolgere dal pregiudizio che tutto ciò che non è spiegabile con le teorie correnti è eretico.

Questo volume sintetizza nozioni di fitoterapia; l'intento è di offrire al medico delle conoscenze essenziali affinché possa agevolmente prescrivere prodotti vegetali e di stimolare farmacista ed erborista ad impiegarli in modo più razionale.

An extensive collection of data on lipids and essential oils that can be extracted from a wide range of plant sources. Over 3,000 plant species are covered, arranged by broad family groups. For each plant detailed information is provided on the lipids, lipophilic compounds and oils that can be extracted from various parts of the plant, e.g. stem, leaves, fruit, seeds etc. References to peer-reviewed journal sources are provided throughout This unique reference will be of value equally to natural product chemists, botanists and those seeking sources of active compounds in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other commercial products.

Este libro es un manual ilustrado para cualquier persona interesada en el uso de plantas medicinales en el altiplano de Guatemala para la atecion primaria en salud

Biotechnology may be defined as the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services (Bullet al. , 1982, p. 21) or as any technique that uses living organisms (or parts of organisms) to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific use (OTC, 1988). In line with these broad definitions we can consider marine biotechnology as the use of marine organisms or their constituents for useful purposes in a controlled fashion. This series will explore a range of scientific advances in support of marine biotechnology. It will provide information on advances in three categories: (1) basic knowledge, (2) ap­ plied research and development, and (3) commercial and institutional issues. We hope the presentation of the topics will generate interest and interaction among readers in the academic world, government, and industry. This first volume examines chemical and biological properties of some natural products that are useful or potentially useful in research and in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. One chapter describes a system for producing such substances on a large scale. Biotechnology incorporates molecular biology in order to go beyond tradi­ tional biochemical technology such as the production of antibiotic drugs from bacterial cultures in bioreactors. Development of the technology for production of antibiotics in this way resulted from fundamental advances in chemistry, phar­ macology, microbiology, and biochemical engineering.

This volume contains the lectures presented at the NATO­ sponsored conference on "Marine Natural Products" held in Jersey, Channel Islands, U. K., October 12-17, 1976. The intent of the organising committee was to encourage a dialogue between organic chemists who study the metabolites of marine organisms and biolo­ gists, ecologists, and pharmacologists who study the effects of these metabolites on other organisms. A feature of the conference was the three workshop sessions on chemotaxonomy, applications of marine natural products, and chemical communication. The papers presented at the conference contain a mixture of original research in marine natural products and reviews of some of the more important subjects. The biologists were asked to present papers which could initiate new directions for marine natural products research. Their contributions to the meeting were warmly received by the chemists in the audience. We hope that this volume contains not only past and present research but a suggestion of future research trends. The conference was first suggested by Dr. E. D. Goldberg. The organising committee, Drs. G. Blunden, D. J. Faulkner, W.

Traditional medicine has always played a major role in Mongolia. Traditional medicine continues to be practiced widely,
playing a vital role in the health-care needs of a large portion of the population. Folk medicine, based on the experiences
of nomadic people, has its own unique medical theory, techniques and medications in Mongolia. Some aspects of
Mongolian folk medicine—along with elements from other Asian systems, such as Tibetan medicine, Ayurveda and
traditional Chinese medicine—have been integrated into the Mongolian medical system.
Traditional medicine practices and knowledge, including the use of medicinal plants, have been passed from
one generation to the next via oral traditions. Without systematic documentation of the role of indigenous plants
in Mongolia, we risk losing information about herbal medicine in Mongolia. This volume serves to help record and
document this important traditional medicine system.
Researchers and practitioners from various branches of science—including “otoch manramba” or doctors of traditional
medicine, pharmacists, pharmacologists, medical doctors, botanists and chemists—teamed up to develop this book.
The authors pored over hundreds of books and manuscripts to document the properties of medicinal plants in Mongolia.
This publication presents the medicinal plants used most commonly in Mongolia. Each monograph contains
colour pictures of the plant and a wide array of information, from the Tibetan and English names to the microscopic
characteristics of the plant.

Traditional medicine, including the knowledge, skills and practices
of holistic health care, exists in all cultures. It is based on indigenous
theories, beliefs and experiences, and is widely accepted for its role in health maintenance and the treatment of disease. Medicinal plants are the main ingredients of local medicines, but rapid urbanization is leading to the loss of many important plants and
knowledge of their use. To help preserve this knowledge and recognize the importance of medicinal plants to health care systems, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has published a series of books
on medicinal plants in China, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam and the
South Pacific.
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea
is the fifth in this series.
This book covers only a small proportion of the immense knowledge on traditional medicine, the plant species from which they are derived, the diseases they can treat and the parts of the plants to be used. The diverse cultures, languages and traditional practices of Papua New Guinea made this a particularly challenging project. But we believe the information and accompanying references can provide useful information for scientists, doctors and other users.
Medicinal Plants in Papua New Guinea,
prepared in collaboration with the University of Papua New Guinea, presents information and colour
pictures of 126 species of commonly used medicinal plants. I believe it will prove an invaluable resource in the quest for good health for all people of the Western Pacific Region

Continuing the high standards set by the widely acclaimed first and second volumes of Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses, Ivan A. Ross now comprehensively documents in Volume 3 the medicinal value of 16 major plant species widely used around the world in medical formulations. The plants for this volume are Camellia sinenis, Cannabis sativa, Cocos nucifera, Coffea arabica, Daucus carota, Ferula assafoetida, Hordeum vulgare, Larrea tridentata, Nicotiana tabacum, Olea europaea, Oryza sativa, Plantago ovata, Saccharum officinarum, Serenoa repens, Sesamum indicum, and Zingiber officinale. The author's exhaustive summary of available scientific data for each plant provides detailed information on how the plant is used in different countries, describing its traditional therapeutic applications and what is known from its use in clinical trials. Additional material presented includes a botanical description with a color photo of each plant for identification, the common names used for the plant throughout the world, and a listing of the plant's known chemical constituents. A comprehensive bibliography cites the literature available from a wide range of disciplines.
Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Traditional and Modern Medicinal Uses, Volume 3, offers a unique collection of vital scientific information for pharmacologists, herbal medicine practitioners, drug developers, phytochemists, medicinal chemists, phytologists, toxicologists, and researchers who want to explore the many uses of plant materials for medicinal and related purposes. Its wealth of significant information will reveal little-known facts about these plants and open new horizons of application for the many novel drugs and drug candidates found in them.

Documenting the latest research in the field of different pathogenic organisms, this book presents the current scenario about promising antimicrobials in the following areas: Part I. Plants as source of antibacterials, Part II. Naturally occurring antifungal natural products, Part III. Antiparasitic natural products, Part IV. Antiviral natural products. Renowned scientists from the globe have been selected as authors to contribute chapters. Use of plants for various ailments is as old as human civilization and continuous efforts are being made to improve medicinal plants or to product their bioactive secondary metabolites in high amounts through various technologies. About 200,000 natural products of plant origin are known and many more are being identified from higher plants and micro-organisms. Some plants based drugs are used since centuries and there is no alternative medicine for many such drugs as cardiac glycosides. Drug discovery from medicinal plants or marine micro-organisms continues to provide an important source of new drug leads. Research on new antibacterials represents a real and timely challenge of this century, particularly for the treatment of infections caused by clinical isolates that show multidrug resistance. The main microorganisms involved in the resistance process have been identified and given the acronym ESKAPE for Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis including highly drug-resistant strains (XDR-TB) has also emerged as one of the most important clinical challenges of this century. Plants of diverse taxa and marine micro-organisms are rich source of these antimicrobials. An attempt has been made to compile the recent information about natural sources of antibacterials and their sustainable utilization. Increased panic of these pathogens warrants a growing demand for research to undertake the threat of multidrug resistance. The search for new antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral natural products is far from devoid of interest. According to the WHO report in 2013, malaria still represents some 207 million cases worldwide and more than 3 billion of people are still exposed to this risk. Similarly, about 350 million people are considered at risk of contracting leishmaniasis. The fight against some viruses also requires that the research on natural products continue. For example, even if an antiretroviral with direct action was recently approved in Europe in 2013, its high cost does not allow to offer it to an exposed population in countries where the cost of drugs remains a problem for a large part of the population. These books are useful to researchers and students in microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, chemistry and biology as well as medical professionals.

The use of drug substances derived from plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine organisms has a long tradition in medicine. Together with their derivatives, and synthetic compounds deduced from natural product precursors, they represent a major part of today's pharmaceutical market.

Within the fast developing discipline of molecular biology, natural products also play an important role as tool compounds in pathway screening and validation of target identification concepts. They provide innovative opportunities in drug discovery, leading to a detailed understanding of biological pathways and revealing the functions of involved enzymes or receptors.

This book highlights new trends and aspects in natural products research. It discusses the biodiversity-driven approaches which are now of eminent importance in natural products research, addressing the question why natural products display such a complex chemical information, what makes them often unique and what their characteristics are. Practical questions such as supply of natural substances and production optimization strategies are also covered.

The use of drug substances derived from plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine organisms has a long tradition in medicine. Together with their derivatives, and synthetic compounds deduced from natural product precursors, they represent a major part of today's pharmaceutical market.

Within the fast developing discipline of molecular biology, natural products also play an important role as tool compounds in pathway screening and validation of target identification concepts. They provide innovative opportunities in drug discovery, leading to a detailed understanding of biological pathways and revealing the functions of involved enzymes or receptors.

This book highlights new trends and aspects in natural products research. It discusses the biodiversity-driven approaches which are now of eminent importance in natural products research, addressing the question why natural products display such a complex chemical information, what makes them often unique and what their characteristics are. Practical questions such as supply of natural substances and production optimization strategies are also covered.

Natural products are sought after by the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, and research continues into their potential for new applications. Extraction of natural products in an economic and environmentally-friendly way is of high importance to all industries involved.

This book presents a holistic and in-depth view of the techniques available for extracting natural products, with modern and more environmentally-benign methods, such as ultrasound and supercritical fluids discussed alongside conventional methods. Examples and case studies are presented, along with the decision-making process needed to determine the most appropriate method. Where appropriate, scale-up and process integration is discussed.

Relevant to researchers in academia and industry, and students aiming for either career path, Natural Product Extraction presents a handy digest of the current trends and latest developments in the field with concepts of Green Chemistry in mind.

This book deals with a variety of aspects of natural product research. It includes review articles and revised original contributions involving analysis, isolation and structure elucidation, synthesis and bioactivity of terrestrial and marine natural products. Plant cell biotechnology for the production of secondary metabolites is discussed. This volume provides also outstanding information about the industrial application of natural products for medicinal purposes.
The broad interdisciplinary approach found in this book, which comprises 50 papers, makes it interesting to the scientists, whose work is in any way related to the research or use of natural products.

Key Building Blocks via Enzyme-Mediated Synthesis, by Thomas Fischer and Jörg Pietruszka
*
Engineered Biosynthesis of Plant Polyketides: Structure-Based and Precursor-Directed Approach, by Ikuro Abe
*
Enzymatic and Chemo-Enzymatic Approaches Towards Natural and Non-Natural Alkaloids: Indoles, Isoquinolines, and Others, by Joachim Stöckigt, Zhong Chen, and Martin Ruppert
*
Chemoenzymatic and Bioenzymatic Synthesis of Carbohydrate Containing Natural Products, by Bohdan Ostash, Xiaohui Yan, Victor Fedorenko, and Andreas Bechthold
*
Total (Bio)Synthesis: Strategies of Nature and of Chemists, by Alexandra A. Roberts, Katherine S. Ryan, Bradley S. Moore, and Tobias A.M. Gulder

Although the natural product drug discovery programs of the large drug companies are now equaled by programs for the high throughput screening of synthetic compounds generated through combinatorial chemistry, natural compounds still hold great promise to overcome such problems as antibiotic resistance, the emergence of new diseases, the failure to conquer old diseases, and the toxicity of some contemporary medical products. In Natural Products: Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Medicine, a panel of recognized experts and leaders in the field discuss the past successes of natural products as medicines and review future possibilities arising from both conventional and new technologies. High-performance liquid chromatography profiling, combinatorial synthesis, genomics, proteomics, DNA shuffling, bioinformatics, and genetic manipulation all now make it possible to rapidly evaluate the activities of extracts as well as purified components derived from microbes, plants, and marine organisms. The authors apply these methods to new natural product drug discovery, to accessing microbial diversity, to investigating specific groups of products (Chinese herbal drugs, antitumor drugs from microbes and plants, terpenoids, and arsenic compounds), and to exploiting specific sources (the sea, rainforest, and endophytes). These new opportunities show how research and development trends in the pharmaceutical industry can advance to include both synthetic compounds and natural products, and how this paradigm shift can be more productive and efficacious.
State-of-the-art and forward looking, Natural Products: Drug Discovery and Therapeutic Medicine will inspire industrial and academic researchers, practitioners, and developers to once again explore natural products as key sources for the many new drugs needed to solve still unmet medical needs.

This reference work provides a wealth of information regarding medicinal plants and phytochemicals. It is addressed both to researchers and teachers.
The handbook describes phytochemicals, which, by the strictest definition, are chemicals that are produced by plants. During the last decades, more and more groups became actively involved in exploring plants for useful metabolites that lead to the identification of several useful curative agents and many promising molecules to fight and/or prevent diseases, including carcinogenesis and stroke. But when we talk about phytochemicals, there are also medicinal plants where not a single molecule is responsible for the observed properties. This reference work therefore reviews and compiles the information on both these aspects.
The volumes contain contributions on phytochemicals and herbal extracts. A large number of natural products obtained from plants and microorganisms is used in cosmetic, drug, flavor and fragrance industries. For this compilation, a range of the most important medicinal herbs and phytochemicals were selected and are described by the recognized authors in the field.
The present reference work encompasses the information about well established phytochemicals, biology and biotechnology of medicinal plants or their products, their biosynthesis, novel production strategies, demand and uses, metabolism and bioavailability. There is a surge of information published in recent years on herbal medicine and their pharmacologic effects with single books available on varied subjects. However, all this information is widespread and difficult to overview. Researchers who wish to keep a pace with the rapidly developing field of natural products can now consult this newly compiled handbook to find all information about bioactive molecules and medicinal plants thoroughly compiled in one place!

Natural products are compounds that are produced by living systems and the secondary metabolites are those which give particular species their characteristic features. These natural products include polyketides, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids and antibiotics. The study of these natural products has played a major part in the development of organic and medicinal chemistry and we are now starting to understand the important ecological role that these compounds have. The aim of this book is to describe the major features of these compounds and the way in which chemical and physical methods have been used to establish their structures and then to show how these structures can be rationalised in biosynthetic terms. The first chapter describes the classes of natural product, their biological activity and isolation. Subsequent chapters attempt to link chemical and spectroscopic strategies in structure elucidation, contrasting the classical chemical strategies that were used in the past with modern spectroscopic methods. The final chapter describes the biosynthesis of natural products. The elucidation of the structures of natural products brings together many elements taught in courses on functional group chemistry, stereochemistry and elementary spectroscopy. This book will therefore be welcomed by lecturers and students of second-year chemistry courses. Ideal for the needs of undergraduate chemistry students, Tutorial Chemistry Texts is a major series consisting of short, single topic or modular texts concentrating on the fundamental areas of chemistry taught in undergraduate science courses. Each book provides a concise account of the basic principles underlying a given subject, embodying an independent-learning philosophy and including worked examples.

This book offers a collection of expert reviews on the use of plant-based antioxidant therapies in disease prevention and treatment. Topics discussed include the uses of plant and nutritional antioxidants in the contexts of reproductive health and prenatal development, healthcare and aging, noncommunicable chronic diseases, and environmental pollution. The text is complemented by a wealth of color figures and summary tables.

Pharmacognosy is a term derived from the Greek words for drug (pharmakon) and knowledge (gnosis). It is a field of study within Chemistry focused on natural products isolated from different sources and their biological activities. Research on natural products began more than a hundred years ago and has continued up to now with a plethora of research groups discovering new ideas and novel active constituents. This book compiles the latest research in the field and will be of interest to scientists, researchers, and students.

Phenolic compounds as a large class of metabolites found in plants have attracted attention since long time ago due to their properties and the hope that they will show beneficial health effects when taken as dietary supplements. This book presents the state of the art of some of the natural sources of phenolic compounds, for example, medicinal plants, grapes or blue maize, as well as the modern methods of extraction, quantification, and identification, and there is a special section discussing the treatment, removal, and degradation of phenols, an important issue in those phenols derived from the pharmaceutical or petrochemical industries.

Global dietary recommendations emphasize the consumption of plant-based foods for the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Plants contain many biologically active compounds referred to as phytochemicals or functional ingredients. These compounds play an important role in human health. Prior to establishing the safety and health benefits of these compounds, they must first be isolated, purified, and their physico-chemical properties established. Once identified, their mechanisms of actions are studied. The chapters are arranged in the order from isolation, purification and identification to in vivo and clinical studies, there by covering not only the analytical procedures used but also their nutraceutical and therapeutic properties.

Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds present in plants used for food and medicine. A great deal of interest has been generated recently in the isolation, characterization and biological activity of these phytochemicals. This book is in response to the need for more current and global scope of phytochemicals. It contains chapters written by internationally recognized authors. The topics covered in the book range from their occurrence, chemical and physical characteristics, analytical procedures, biological activity, safety and industrial applications. The book has been planned to meet the needs of the researchers, health professionals, government regulatory agencies and industries. This book will serve as a standard reference book in this important and fast growing area of phytochemicals, human nutrition and health.

Phytochemicals provides original research work and reviews on the sources of phytochemicals, and their roles in disease prevention, supplementation, and accumulation in fruits and vegetables. The roles of anthocyanin, flavonoids, carotenoids, and taxol are presented in separate chapters. Antioxidative and free radicle scavenging activity of phytochemicals is also discussed. The medicinal properties of Opuntia, soybean, sea buckthorn, and gooseberry are presented in a number of chapters. Supplementation of plant extract with phytochemical properties in broiler meals is discussed in one chapter. The final two chapters include the impact of agricultural practices and novel processing technologies on the accumulation of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables. This book mainly focuses on medicinal plants and the disease-preventing properties of phytochemicals, which will be a useful resource to the reader.

Plants produce a huge array of natural products (secondary metabolites). These compounds have important ecological functions, providing protection against attack by herbivores and microbes and serving as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing agents. They may also contribute to competition and invasiveness by suppressing the growth of neighbouring plant species (a phenomenon known as allelopathy). Humans exploit natural products as sources of drugs, flavouring agents, fragrances and for a wide range of other applications. Rapid progress has been made in recent years in understanding natural product synthesis, regulation and function and the evolution of metabolic diversity. It is timely to bring this information together with contemporary advances in chemistry, plant biology, ecology, agronomy and human health to provide a comprehensive guide to plant-derived natural products.

Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application provides an informative and accessible overview of the different facets of the field, ranging from an introduction to the different classes of natural products through developments in natural product chemistry and biology to ecological interactions and the significance of plant-derived natural products for humans. In the final section of the book a series of chapters on new trends covers metabolic engineering, genome-wide approaches, the metabolic consequences of genetic modification, developments in traditional medicines and nutraceuticals, natural products as leads for drug discovery and novel non-food crops.

The aim of this Special Issue on “Plant Natural Products for Human Health” is to compilea series of scientific reports to demonstrate the medicinal potential of plant natural products, such asin vitroandin vivoactivities, clinical effects, mechanisms of action, structure-activity relationships,and pharmacokinetic properties. With the global trend growing in popularity for botanical dietarysupplements and phytopharmaceuticals, it is hoped that this Special Issue would serve as a timelyreference for researchers and scholars who are interested in the discovery of potentially usefulmolecules from plant sources for health-related applications

Essential oils have recently received much attention globally due to the increased use of essential oils as well as the positive impacts from economic backgrounds. New compounds of essential oils have been discovered from medicinal plants and used in anti-disease treatment as well as in most houses as a source of natural flavor. This book covers some interesting research topics for essential oils, including identification of active ingredients from wild and medicinal plants. This book will add significant value for researchers, academics, and students in the field of medicine.

One strategy to expedite the discovery of new drugs, a process that is somewhat slow and serendipitous, is the identification and use of privileged scaffolds. This book covers the history of the discovery and use of privileged scaffolds and addresses the various classes of these important molecular fragments.
The first of the benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that is powerful for treating anxiety, may not have been discovered had it not been for a chance experiment on the contents of a discarded flask found during a lab clean-up. Some years later, scientists discovered that benzodiazepine derivatives were also effective in treating other diseases. This class of molecules was the first to be described as privileged in the sense that it is especially effective at altering the course of disease. Other privileged molecular structures have since been discovered, and since these compounds are so effective at interacting with numerous classes of proteins, they may be an effective starting point to look for new drugs against the supposedly “undruggable” proteins.
Following introductory chapters presenting an overview, a historical perspective and the theoretical background and findings, main chapters describe the structure of privileged structures in turn and discuss major drug classes associated with them and their syntheses. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the subject through chapters contributed by expert authors from both academia and industry and will be an excellent reference source for medicinal chemists of a range of disciplines and experiences.

Throughout most of history, medicinal plants and their active metabolites have represented a valuable source of compounds used to prevent and to cure several diseases. Interest in natural compounds is still high as they represent a source of novel biologically/pharmacologically active compounds. Due to their high structural diversity and complexity, they are interesting structural scaffolds that can offer promising candidates for the study of new drugs, functional foods, and food additives.Plant extracts are a highly complex mixture of compounds and qualitative and quantitative analyses are necessary to ensure their quality. Furthermore, greener methods of extraction and analysis are needed today.This book is based on articles submitted for publication in the Special Issue entitled “Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Bioactive Natural Products” that collected original research and reviews on these topics.

The authors of this thematic issue provide a comprehensive summary of most recent knowledge and references on quality control in wide fields. Quality control is essential for natural products like natural medicine and related food products. In this issue fifteen chapters have been included, discussing in detail various aspects of quality control. It will certainly prove useful not only for phytochemical researchers, but also many scientists working in numerous fields. Much effort has been invested by the contributors to share current information. Without their efforts and input 'Quality Control of Herbal Medicine and Related Areas' could not exist.

The necessity of safe and cost effective medication especially for under developed and developing regions of the world together with emergence of new chronic and drug resistant diseases have prompted scientists to look towards medicinal plants as agents for treatment and prevention. This book provides an overview of advances and recent trends in medicinal plant sciences along with biotechnological interventions that has made it increasingly feasible to exploit these natural resources and transform traditional medicines into modern drugs. The book starts with a chapter discussing different types of phytoactive compounds which are the elementary substances behind medicinal action of plant extracts. Thereafter different biotechnological tools and techniques like bioreactors, hairy root culture and elicitation which are utilized to enhance and tap these valuable compounds at commercial level, are discussed in detail. The publication provides state-of-the-art information on the recent trends and technologies in medicinal plant science. The novel approaches of using plants as a source for neutraceuticals and vaccines have been thoroughly discussed in light of ongoing advancements. This work also features a compilation of standardized in vitro conservation protocols for some commercially important, rare, threatened and endangered medicinal plants. The book includes work from researchers on antimicrobial activity of various plants species native to different geographical regions around the globe. The book provides an essential text for advanced students, teachers, and research scientists in the fields of pharmacy, medical sciences, plant biotechnology, phytochemistry, and plant tissue culture.

This book intends to strike a balance between developments in research and the fact that researchers must absorb and link to scientific advances with clinical practice so that the management of diseases can be based on sound physiological concepts. This book addresses several controversial issues regarding a natural molecule with fascinating pharmacological and therapeutic effects. The book contains three sections: Section 1: Pharmacology and Therapeutic Applications of Resveratrol; Section 2: Bioavailability, Metabolism, and Mode of Action of Resveratrol; Section 3: Resveratrol and Its Role in Chronic and Degenerative Diseases. Does it Add Life to Years or Years to Life? It is our hope that this book will motivate readers to approach the evidence on the use resveratrol and thereby spark an interest in making further contributions to the current scientific debate and treatment development efforts.

Saponins are glycosides of triterpenes, steroids or steroidal alkaloids. They can be found in plants and marine organisms. Very diverse biological activities are ascribed to saponins and they play important roles in food, animal feedstuffs, and pharmaceutical properties. This volume provides a selection of recent work on saponins presented at a symposium in Pulawy, Poland, in 1999. Many different aspects are treated: analysis, separation, biological activities, relevant use in human and animal nutrition, and ecological significance. This book will be of use to researchers both in universities and industry.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the literature available on satureja covering the ethnomedicine, micromorphology, the main secondary metabolites in its various species, as well it’s important biological and pharmacological activities and the underlying mechanism of action for some of its medicinal properties. There is also discussion of the pharmacological evidence for the various therapeutic activities of Satureja spp., especially on the basis of traditional usage, the treatment of muscle pains, cramps, diarrhea, stomach pain, and blood pressure along with some new areas such as cytoprotection and anti-hyperlipidemia. This book offers a useful guide for researchers in the field of pharmaceutical sciences and natural medicines as well as students and residents in the fields of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry.

Seaweeds are the rich sources of naturally occurring valuable therapeutic substances. Many different marine organisms have been explored for novel bioactive compounds that exhibit antiviral, antitumor, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory activities. Nonetheless, seaweed-derived polysaccharides have also been studied for the design of different kinds of novel drug delivery systems. Over the last 30-40 years, research has been ongoing in the search for novel seaweed-derived bioactive compounds. This book covers up-to-date information on seaweed biomaterials and their therapeutic potentials.

1. 1 Philosophy and Aims of this Book 1. 1. 1 The Large Solanales Families as a Topic Solanales are from the Mid-Cretaceous (stem node age: 106 my; crown node age: 100 my) (Bremer et al. 2004). Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae are sisters represe- ing the two large families of this order. Their last common ancestor lived about 70 my ago (Durbin et al. 2000). The main objective of the author is to focus on aspects of our extensive knowledge of secondary metabolites in the plant kingdom in order to account for the specific competitiveness and productivity of these two large Solanales families. To this end, it has been necessary to take a bird’s-eye view of 200 years of phytochemical research on the Solanales, since first scientific reports with regard to both families were published in the early nineteenth century. Due to an almost complete lack of phytochemical reports (one single exception) on species of the three remaining, very small families of the order (see Chap. 2), they have not been considered. 1. 1. 2 General Role of the Secondary Metabolism for a Specific Characterization and Classification of Plant Taxa While traditional systematics generally focused on morphologic-anatomical char- ters of plants, in some cases chemotaxonomic aspects with regard to low molecular secondary metabolites were also considered. However, plant biochemistry and chemotaxonomy normally played a minor role in classification.

This volume of the IARC Monographs provides an assessment of the carcinogenicity of 14 drugs and herbal products.
The IARC Monographs Working Group relied on epidemiological studies to evaluate the carcinogenic hazard to humans exposed to the drugs digoxin (widely prescribed for the treatment of chronic heart failure), pioglitazone (used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus), and hydrochlorothiazide (used to treat hypertension). Other agents evaluated included the drugs primidone, sulfasalazine, pentosan polysulfate sodium, and triamterene, and five herbal products (or their components): Aloe vera whole leaf extract, goldenseal root powder, Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, kava extract, and pulegone. In view of the limited agent-specific information available from epidemiological studies, assessments of these agents relied mainly on carcinogenicity bioassays to reach conclusions as to the carcinogenic hazard to exposed humans.

Traditional herbal medicines encompass an extremely diverse group of preparations that originate from many different cultures. In recent years, such products have become widely available commercially in developed countries, where mixtures prepared from medicinal plants have been marketed or uses that were never contemplated in the traditional healing systems from which they emerged. In many countries, herbal medicines are not subject to rigorous standards with respect to manufacturing, efficacy, quality and safety. For example, herbal remedies containing plant species of the genus Aristolochia and used in Europe for body weight loss have caused kidney disease and urothelial cancers and are now classified as carcinogenic to humans. This monograph evaluates the carcinogenic risks to humans posed by the use of some traditional herbal medicines, Fumonisin B1, and the industrial organic chemicals naphthalene and styrene, and provides an update of the data on the carcinogenicity of aflatoxins. An Annex to the volume describes fungal sources and formation of aflatoxins in foods and feeds, and discusses practical strategies for reduction of aflatoxin levels.

Volumes five and six of Bioorganic Marine Chemistry differ from their predecessors in two respects - they deal exclusively with labor­ atory synthesis of marine natural products and they represent the effort of a single author and his associates. The rationale for these departures is readily perceived. For several decades organic synthesis has without doubt been the most spectacular branch of organic chemistry. While the late R.B. Woodward's dictum - organic compounds can undergo only four basic reactions: they can gain electrons; they can lose electrons; they can be transformed with acid or with base - is still true, the wealth and variety of available reagents which will accomplish chemical transformations has reached staggering proportions. Little wonder then, that synthetic methodology has achieved a high degree of predictability and total synthesis of natural products has been successfully directed toward ever more challenging targets. As for the second point, that of single authorship, multiple authorship would invariably have led to gaps and overlaps, thus making it difficult to assemble and assess recent research in a systematic and comprehens­ ive fashion.

Volumes five and six of Bioorganic Marine Chemistry differ from their predecessors in two respects - they deal exclusively with laboratory synthesis of marine natural products and they represent the effort of a single author and his associates. The rationale for these departures is readily perceived. For several decades organic synthesis has without doubt been the most spectacular branch of organic chemistry. While the late R.B. Woodward's dictum - organic compounds can undergo only four basic reactions: they can gain electrons; they can lose electrons; they can be transformed with acid or with base - is still true, the wealth and variety of available reagents which will accomplish chemical transformations has reached staggering proportions. Little wonder then, that synthetic methodology has achieved a high degree of predictability and total synthesis of natural products has been successfully directed toward ever more challenging targets. As for the second point, that of single authorship, multiple authorship would invariably have led to gaps and overlaps, thus making it difficult to assemble and assess recent research in a systematic and comprehens­ ive fashion.

Terpenes belong to the diverse class of chemical constituents isolated from materials found in nature (plants, fungi, insects, marine organisms, plant pathogens, animals and endophytes). These metabolites have simple to complex structures derived from Isopentyl diphosphate (IPP), dimethyl allyl diphosphate (DMAPP), mevalonate and deoxyxylulose biosynthetic pathways. Terpenes play a very important role in human health and have significant biological activities (anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergic, skin permeation enhancer, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-insecticidal). This book gives an overview and highlights recent research in the phytochemical and biological understanding of terpenes and terpenoid and explains the most essential functions of these kinds of secondary metabolites isolated from natural sources.

The biological activity of mycotoxins ranges from weak and/or sometimes positive effects, such as antibacterial activity (see penicillin derivatives derived from Penicillium strains) to strong mutagenic (e. g. aflatoxins, patulin), carcinogenic (e. g. aflatoxins), teratogenic, neurotoxic (e. g. ochratoxins), nephrotoxic (e. g. fumonisins, citrinin), hepatotoxic, and immunotoxic (e. g. ochratoxins, diketopiperazines) activity.
Nowadays, many laboratories around the world are specialized in the detection of mycotoxins in food products and contaminated material found in housing.
In this volume, a focus on the most important classes of mycotoxins is provided and their chemistry of the last ten years is discussed. In each Section, the individual biological impact is outlined. Sections are arranged according to mycotoxin classes (e. g. aflatoxins) and/or structural classes (e. g. resorcinyl lactones, diketopiperazines). The biology of mycotoxins is also described.

Epothilones have received unusual attention over the past ten years. They are novel antitumor drugs which very much like their predecessor paclitaxel (Taxol) act via microtubule stabilization. In comparison to paclitaxel and a number of alternative drugs with a similar mode of bioaction (e.g. laulimalide, eleutherobin, peluroside, discodermolide) the epothilones have significant advantages, above all very high activity in the nanomolar range and low susceptibility towards multidrug resistance. Epothilone B and several derivatives thereof are in phase I-III clinical trials; one of them (ixabepilone, BMS) is already on the market, others are supposed to appear on the market in the near future. All naturally occurring epothilones have been isolated from Sorangium cellulosum; their antitumor action is traced back to the stabilization of microtubules. In consequence, the formation of the mitototic spindle is prohibited and the cell undergoes apoptosis.

'Total Synthesis of Natural Products' is written and edited by some of today's leaders in organic chemistry. Eleven chapters cover a range of natural products, from steroids to alkaloids. Each chapter contains an introduction to the natural product in question, descriptions of its biological and pharmacological properties and outlines of total synthesis procedures already carried out. Particular emphasis is placed on novel methodologies developed by the respective authors and their research groups. This text is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, as well as organic chemists in academia and industry.

The author has developed novel methodologies for highly efficient construction of functionalized heterocycles by palladium-catalyzed domino/cascade cyclization of allenes and related compounds containing appropriate nucleophilic group(s). Based on these methodologies, enantioselective total syntheses of bioactive natural products, pachastrissamine (26% overall yield in seven steps), lysergic acid (4.0% overall yield in fifteen steps), lysergol (3.6% overall yield in fifteen steps) and isolysergol (8.2% overall yield in eleven steps) have been achieved. These are more facile synthetic route than those previously reported. These findings would contribute to the development of efficient synthetic methods for biologically active compounds containing a complex structure.

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the hazards inherent in herbal medicinal products, with systematic coverage of major toxicities. Topics include composition and quality control, toxicokinetics, interactions, safety pharmacology, approaches to studying complex mixtures including metabolomics and systems network pharmacology, and long-term toxicity. The volume also discusses various organ toxicities with a special emphasis on basic mechanisms of actions and the multicomponent and multi-target nature of herbal products. It concludes with a look to future challenges and opportunities.
With contributions from noted experts, Toxicology of Herbal Products is a necessary resource for physicians, pharmacists, and toxicologists interested in complex plant-derived products.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a strong scientific basis, but the science of these important preparations is often rarely discussed. Western approaches often simplify traditional Chinese medicine to drug discovery in Chinese plants, however, the majority of traditional Chinese medications use complex mixtures of plant extracts, rather than single purified drugs. The combination of different extracts is based on yin, yang and chi theories, which are often poorly understood in the West. Yin and yang are known to be the balance of agonists and antagonists, whereas chi derives from signalling processes in the body and regulates bodily functions. Traditional Chinese medical practitioners understand that yin, yang and chi constantly interact in the body to maintain health.

Western medical practitioners understand how to use agonists and antagonists and how to modify signalling processes, but generally do not accept the use of complex plant extracts to perform these functions. Aimed at medical scientists, and including detailed explanations of the theories behind the science, this text helps researchers to understand, and communicate more effectively with, Chinese medical practitioners and may lead to greater acceptance of traditional medications in the West. Presenting a clear rationale for the use of traditional Chinese medications in Western medical facilities, Traditional Chinese Medicine enables scientists to find new directions in experimental design and encourage examination of these useful, but often poorly understood, preparations in clinical trials.

The medicinal use of plants, animals and microorganisms has been a part of human evolution and likely began before recorded history. Is it possible that this knowledge can be used to create powerful new drugs and solve some of the human health problems facing us today? This book is a collection of an expert team of agronomists, chemists, biologists and policy makers who discuss some of the processes involved in developing a naturally-sourced bioactive compound into a drug therapy. These experts define a natural compound and elucidate the processes required to find, extract and define a naturally-derived bioactive molecule. Finally, they describe the necessity for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of disease before applying bioactive molecules in bioassay-guided drug discovery platforms.

A series of volumes, the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants aims to: provide scientific information on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of widely used medicinal plants; provide models to assist Member States in developing their own monographs or formularies for these and other herbal medicines; and facilitate information exchange among Member States. WHO monographs, however, are not pharmacopoeial monographs, rather they are comprehensive scientific references for drug regulatory authorities, physicians, traditional health practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, research scientists and the general public.

Each monograph follows a standard format with information presented in two parts followed by a reference list. The first part presents pharmacopoeial summaries for quality assurance. The second part includes sections on medicinal uses, pharmacology, safety issues, and dosage forms. The descriptions under the medicinal uses section merely represent, for purposes of information exchange, the systematic collection of scientific information available at the time of each volume’s preparation and should not be taken as having WHO’s official endorsement or approval.
Volume 1 contains 28 monographs published in 1999. Volume 2, published in 2003 includes 30 monographs. Volume 3 in this series was published in 2007 and includes 31 monographs. Volume 4, which was published in 2009, includes 28 monographs.

Each volume after Volume 1 has a general technical notice and two cumulative indexes to facilitate referencing; one lists the monographs in alphabetical order by plant name and the other according to the plant material of interest.

A series of volumes, the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants aims to: provide scientific information on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of widely used medicinal plants; provide models to assist Member States in developing their own monographs or formularies for these and other herbal medicines; and facilitate information exchange among Member States. WHO monographs, however, are not pharmacopoeial monographs, rather they are comprehensive scientific references for drug regulatory authorities, physicians, traditional health practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, research scientists and the general public.

Each monograph follows a standard format with information presented in two parts followed by a reference list. The first part presents pharmacopoeial summaries for quality assurance. The second part includes sections on medicinal uses, pharmacology, safety issues, and dosage forms. The descriptions under the medicinal uses section merely represent, for purposes of information exchange, the systematic collection of scientific information available at the time of each volume’s preparation and should not be taken as having WHO’s official endorsement or approval.
Volume 1 contains 28 monographs published in 1999. Volume 2, published in 2003 includes 30 monographs. Volume 3 in this series was published in 2007 and includes 31 monographs. Volume 4, which was published in 2009, includes 28 monographs.

Each volume after Volume 1 has a general technical notice and two cumulative indexes to facilitate referencing; one lists the monographs in alphabetical order by plant name and the other according to the plant material of interest.

A series of volumes, the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants aims to: provide scientific information on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of widely used medicinal plants; provide models to assist Member States in developing their own monographs or formularies for these and other herbal medicines; and facilitate information exchange among Member States. WHO monographs, however, are not pharmacopoeial monographs, rather they are comprehensive scientific references for drug regulatory authorities, physicians, traditional health practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, research scientists and the general public.

Each monograph follows a standard format with information presented in two parts followed by a reference list. The first part presents pharmacopoeial summaries for quality assurance. The second part includes sections on medicinal uses, pharmacology, safety issues, and dosage forms. The descriptions under the medicinal uses section merely represent, for purposes of information exchange, the systematic collection of scientific information available at the time of each volume’s preparation and should not be taken as having WHO’s official endorsement or approval.

Volume 1 contains 28 monographs published in 1999. Volume 2, published in 2003 includes 30 monographs. Volume 3 in this series was published in 2007 and includes 31 monographs. Volume 4, which was published in 2009, includes 28 monographs.

Each volume after Volume 1 has a general technical notice and two cumulative indexes to facilitate referencing; one lists the monographs in alphabetical order by plant name and the other according to the plant material of interest.

WHO published Volume 1 of the WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, containing 28 monographs, in 1999, Volume 2 including 30 monographs in 2002, and the third volume presenting 31 monographs in 2007. This fourth volume contains an additional collection of 28 monographs describing the quality control and use of selected medicinal plants.

Each monograph contains two parts, the first of which provides pharmacopoeial summaries for quality assurance purposes, including botanical features, identity tests, purity requirements, chemical assays and major chemical constituents. The second part, drawing on an extensive review of scientific research, describes the clinical applications of the plant material, with detailed pharmacological information and sections on contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions and dosage. Also included are six cumulative indexes to the four volumes, listing the monographs, the medicinal plant names, and the major chemical constituents.

The WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants aim to provide scientific information on the safety, efficacy, and quality control of widely used medicinal plants; provide models to assist Member States in developing their own monographs or formularies for these and other herbal medicines; and facilitate information exchange among Member States. WHO monographs, however, are not pharmacopoeial monographs, rather they are comprehensive scientific references for drug regulatory authorities, physicians, traditional health practitioners, pharmacists, manufacturers, research scientists and the general public.

En este libro, los yaneshas, una población de la Amazonía peruana, comparten sus conocimientos sobre sus plantas y sus variados usos medicinales. ¿Cuáles se utilizan para aliviar el dolor de cabeza?, ¿cómo curar la gripe?, ¿qué dieta debe seguir una persona que ha sido mordida por una serpiente?, ¿cómo hacerse querer por alguien? Además, nos narran otros usos cotidianos: ¿qué árboles permiten teñir los hilos de algodón para hacer las cushmas?, ¿cómo sembrar la yuca para que crezca bien? Estas son algunas preguntas a las cuales el libro ofrece respuestas.

He aquí la sistematización de tres años de trabajo con la nación Yanesha, que nos hace descubrir su riqueza cultural mediante la descripción de los usos de sus plantas, a la vez que ofrece al lector un amplio panorama de sus vastos conocimientos tradicionales.