Chemistry Biological And Pharmacological Properties Of Medicinal Plants From The Americas

This volume is a compilation of plenary lectures presented at the IOCD/CYTED Symposium held in Panama City, Panama in 1997, and covers different aspects of research into plants from North, South and Central America. The topics treated all revolve around the chemistry, pharmacology, and biology of these plants. The importance of pharmaceuticals derived from plant sources is described, together with the potential of ethnomedicine for providing new leads in the search for bioactive constituents. The biodiversity of the Americas is underlined and an idea is given of the urgency with which the flora must be studied.

This volume is a compilation of plenary lectures presented at the IOCD/CYTED Symposium held in Panama City, Panama in 1997, and covers different aspects of research into plants from North, South and Central America. The topics treated all revolve around the chemistry, pharmacology, and biology of these plants. The importance of pharmaceuticals derived from plant sources is described, together with the potential of ethnomedicine for providing new leads in the search for bioactive constituents. The biodiversity of the Americas is underlined and an idea is given of the urgency with which the flora must be studied.

The Biochemical Guide to Medicinal Plants presents the study of medicinal plants and organic chemistry, forming a bridge between the biology and chemistry of medicinal plants by studying complex chemical interactions. The book consists of 45 chapters, each describing one medicinal plant with figures. We present species of herbaceous and woody plants found on various continents and in various habitats, presenting their various adaptations to the environment. The book contains information about plants' range, appearance, and biological and ecological characteristics, and the descriptions are enriched with surprising curiosities. The book also contains data on the plants' life spans and flowering periods. Plants used as spices, plants that have no flowers, forest and meadow plants, and plants with medicinal and poisonous properties are described. The reader will learn about the properties of medicinal plants characteristic for each season. This book shows the beauty of plants used in medicine, with their richness of shape, color and fragrance.

Plants produce secondary metabolites that humans harness for their own benefit. About half of drugs currently in clinical use are based on these chemicals found in nature. Chemistry of Natural Products covers secondary metabolites present in medicinal plants and their biosynthesis, biological activities, and isolation and separation techniques. This book is ideal for researchers in the areas of biochemistry, medicine, and pharmacology.

The book provides essential information on some of the promising edible medicinal plants and how these possess both nutritional as well as therapeutic value. The significance of the edible plants in traditional medicine and the importance of the distribution of their chemical constituents are discussed systematically concerning the role of these plants in ethnomedicine in different regions of the world. The current volume deals with the individual plants' phytochemical and pharmacological properties, emphasizing human health. The title would demonstrate the value of natural edible plants and introduce readers to state-of-the-art developments and trends in omics-driven research. This book is a single-source scientific reference to explore the specific factors that contribute to these potential health benefits and discuss how to maximize those potential benefits. Chemists, food technologists, pharmacologists, phytochemists, and all professionals involved with quality control and standardization will find in this book a valuable and updated basis for their work.