Phytopharmaceuticals

The book contains developments made in medicinal plants study and phytotherapy, upgrades our scientific knowledge of herbal drug ingredients, their properties, and side effects, and promotes the use of phytopharmaceuticals obtained from plants to assist researchers and clinicians in alternative therapies.Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. These plants contain a variety of bioactive components-also known as phytochemicals-in the various parts of plants, i.e., stems, leaves, fruits and flowers. These components supplement the needs of the systems of the human body. This book covers a range of topics concerning the bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, including how bioactive molecules are isolated from medicinal plants; their available sources, biochemistry, structural composition and potential biological activities; and the importance of the application of phytopharmaceutical molecules from a health perspective. Also covered are pharmacological aspects of medicinal plants; the phytochemistry and biological activities of different natural products; ethnobotany and medicinal properties; a novel dietary approach for the management of various diseases and its therapeutic potential; and the importance of plant-derived pharmaceuticals and their potential range of application in different food and pharma industries. Diverse technical facets of phytopharmaceuticals for potential use in systems of the human body are highlighted in this book, supplemented by abundant information on food science and technology.AudienceResearchers and advanced students in the chemistry of natural products, biochemistry, phytochemistry, ethnobotany, and pharmacologists will highly value this unique book. Herbal drug manufacturers and those in the food and nutraceuticals industries will be especially interested.