Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Middle-East

Plants have been known and cultivated for their therapeutic properties in the Middle-East throughout recorded history and most likely - beyond that. With the progress of science, they continue to be cultivated and collected for both traditional and innovative purposes.This volume: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the Middle-East offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on medicinal plants and their increasing importance as cultivated crops, or as plants with significant potential to become crops in this important region.In 17 chapters of meticulous research, this unique volume explores history, taxonomy, ecology and biodiversity, cultivation and breeding, agronomy and medicinal properties.Written by leading scientists, this volume includes:The history of medicinal plants used by our ancestors during the early periods of civilization, especially in the Near-East;The use of plants for producing health products (pomegranate, pine), pharmaceutical drugs (khat for natural amphetamines, opium poppy, Myrtle); nutrition and food products: (Eruca sativa, citron,) herbs and spices (oregano, sages,) cosmeceutical products and perfumes (rose oil, apharsemon, myrrh and olibanum), liqueurs (Myrtus communis) and many more;Traditional plants used by Bedouin tribes in the Middle-East;The use of edible wild plants in tradition and as future health foodsThe use of Pistacia in veterinary as well as in human medicine;The presentation of a native plant from Jordan: Juniperus, with its traditional and promising modern studies;Some important traditional medicinal plants with great potential (Capparis spinosa, sacropoterium spinosum)From poppy and rose-oil to khat and citron this volume highlights issues relevant to the collection, conservation, cultivation, production and utilization of a selection of unique medicinal and aromatic plants, with demonstrated promise for the benefit of society-especially in the 21st century.