Medicinal plants are a valuable source of bioactive compounds and could be introduced for the development of novel functional ingredients for the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases. In recent years, many studies on phytochemical constituents, pharmacological properties and their mechanism of action have been conducted on bioactivities of medicinal plants extracts. This volume, comprising 24 articles, gives an overview of various commercial and therapeutic applications involving pharmacological active compounds which can be used in the production of novel drugs. It contains contributions by authors from 13 countries, namely Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nairobi, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and USA.
The present volume is a comprehensive review of significant investigations on medicinal plants viz. Aegel marmelos, Bergia suffruticosa, Carica papaya, Chelodium sativum, Cucumis sativus, Datura stramonium, Dimocarpus longan, Elaeis guineensis, Ficus deltoidea, Lavandula sp. Raspberry pomace (Rubus berries), Lippia javanica, Salvia sp., Satureia biflora, Scindapsis officinalis, spices, Stevia rebaudiana, Terminalia chebula, Thymus sp., Toddalia asiatica, Vigna angularis, and Xylopia frutescens. Three chapters of this volume are focused on Salvia herb with major components, in-vivo metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and bioactivities with their mechanism of action. Antimicrobial and prebiotic properties of some herbs and herbal preparations, fruits and vegetables are also presented. The importance of the bioactive compound saponin, spice aphrodisiacs and nanoparticles of medicinal plants is well emphasized.
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, marketing and economic strategies. It is addressed to undergraduate, postgraduate, teachers and researchers.