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Medicinal plants, the world's oldest known health care products, play a dominant role in traditional health medicine. Simultaneously, plants are one of the driving forces that play a key role in the development and advancement of modern studies on biological activities. This volume contains 24 chapters contributed from 16 countries, namely Austria, China, Czech Republic, India, Iran, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and USA.
The volume reflects on various pharmacological properties, their mechanism of action and medical preparations used in management of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatism, Alzheimer's. It also looks at health-promoting properties relating to hepatoprotection, dental caries, depression and anxiety, cognitive disorders, erectile dysfunction and infertility. The volume also contains comprehensive review of significant bioactive compounds like polysaccharides, polyphenols, phenylethanoids, glycosides, genistein, silybin, etc. New findings from the study of saffron (Crocus sativus) indicate a decrease of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The protective benefits from several dietary compounds have been demonstrated against cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation and cardiovascular disorders, and the physiological relevance as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in these effects are also discussed. One of the articles describes the application of natural products in order to protect crops, fruits and vegetables against contamination with phytopathogenic and saprophytic fungi. Medicinal herbs such as linden (Titlia cordata), peppermint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) were investigated in terms of their health-promoting properties and related bioactive constituents. Significantly, the use of natural immunostimulants in fish culture is a promising new development.
This volume is aimed at professionals of interdisciplinary health sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacognosy, agriculture, botany, medicine, therapeutics, traditional medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, food technology, herbalism, medical and public health sciences, policy-makers and marketing and economic strategies. It is addressed to undergraduate, postgraduate, teachers and researchers.
