Natural Products as Source of Molecules with Therapeutic Potential


Book Description

This book addresses the highly relevant and complex subject of research on drugs from natural products, discussing the current hot topics in the field. It also provides a detailed overview of the strategies used to research and develop these drugs. Respected experts explore issues involved in the production chain and when looking for new medicinal agents, including aspects such as therapeutic potential, functional foods, ethnopharmacology, metabolomics, virtual screening and regulatory scenarios. Further, the book describes strategic methods of isolation and characterization of active principles, biological assays, biotechnology of plants, synthesis, clinical trials and the use of tools to identity active principles.




Phyllanthus Species


Book Description

The genus Phyllanthus has over 1,000 species distributed worldwide, many of which have been used indigenously for the treatment of a variety of ailments for generations. Researchers have developed ways to analyze the potential of these plants and demonstrated the pharmacological action and various chemical entities present in each of them. They have validated the folklore claims and used this knowledge to design cost-effective and reliable sources of medicine. The first book to exclusively examine the genus Phyllanthus, Phyllanthus Species: Scientific Evaluation and Medicinal Applications begins with a systematic classification and identification manual for various plants in the genus, followed by the scientific evaluation of the species for modern medicinal use. This reference compiles cutting edge research from countries around the world, including the UK, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Spain, Cuba, and China. Topics covered include phylogenetic analysis of Phyllanthus, chemistry of the genus, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and chemo- protective effects, genotoxicity, clinical trials involving Phyllanthus, and various formulations containing different plants from the genus Phyllanthus. Phyllanthus Species: Scientific Evaluation and Medicinal Applications describes in detail the taxonomy, cultivation, and marketing, identification of geographic and genetic hot spots, chemistry, scientific evaluation, and clinical trials of various species of Phyllanthus. Written for researchers and educators in academia, industry, agriculture, and the interested general public, this book’s up-to-date references make it a powerful resource providing first-hand information on Phyllanthus.




Herbal Drugs: Ethnomedicine to Modern Medicine


Book Description

Considerable progress has been made in our healthcare system, in particular with respect to sensitive diagnostic tools, reagents and very effective and precise drugs. On the other hand, high-throughput screening technology can screen vast numbers of compounds against an array of targets in a very short time, and leads thus - tained can be further explored. In developing countries, the exploding population exerts pressure not only on natural resources but also on the human population - self, whose members strive to become successful and advance in society. This leads to increased blood pressure, anxiety, obesity-associated lipid disorders, cardiov- cular diseases and diabetes. Most of these diseases result in disturbed family life, including sexual behaviour. Despite technological developments, herbal drugs still occupy a preferential place in a majority of the population in the Third World and terminal patients in the West. Herbal drugs, in addition to being cost effective and easily accessible, have been used since time immemorial and have passed the test of time without having any side effects. The multitarget effects of herbs (holistic approaches) are the fun- mental basis of their utilization. This approach is already used in traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, which has become more popular in the West in recent years. However, the integration of modern science with traditional uses of herbal drugs is of the utmost importance if ones wishes to use ancient knowledge for the betterment of humanity.




Plant-derived Bioactives


Book Description

Plants produce a vast number of bioactive compounds with different chemical scaffolds, which modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and are used as drugs for treating numerous diseases. Most present-day medicines are derived either from plant compounds or their derivatives, and plant compounds continue to offer limitless reserves for the discovery of new medicines. While different classes of plant compounds, like phenolics, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids, and their potential pharmacological applications are currently being explored, their curative mechanisms are yet to be understood in detail. This book is divided into 2 volumes and offers detailed information on plant-derived bioactive compounds, including recent research findings. Volume 1, Plant-derived Bioactives: Chemistry and Mode of Action, discusses the chemistry of highly valued plant bioactive compounds and their mode of actions at the molecular level. Volume 2, Plant-derived Bioactives: Production, Properties and Therapeutic Applications, explores the sources, biosynthesis, production, biological properties and therapeutic applications of plant bioactives. Given their scope, these books are valuable resources for members of the scientific community wishing to further explore various medicinal plants and the therapeutic applications of their bioactive compounds. They appeal to scholars, teachers and scientists involved in plant product research, and facilitate the development of innovative new drugs.




Plant-derived Natural Products


Book Description

Plants produce a huge array of natural products (secondary metabolites). These compounds have important ecological functions, providing protection against attack by herbivores and microbes and serving as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing agents. They may also contribute to competition and invasiveness by suppressing the growth of neighboring plant species (a phenomenon known as allelopathy). Humans exploit natural products as sources of drugs, flavoring agents, fragrances and for a wide range of other applications. Rapid progress has been made in recent years in understanding natural product synthesis, regulation and function and the evolution of metabolic diversity. It is timely to bring this information together with contemporary advances in chemistry, plant biology, ecology, agronomy and human health to provide a comprehensive guide to plant-derived natural products. Plant-derived natural products: synthesis, function and application provides an informative and accessible overview of the different facets of the field, ranging from an introduction to the different classes of natural products through developments in natural product chemistry and biology to ecological interactions and the significance of plant-derived natural products for humans. In the final section of the book a series of chapters on new trends covers metabolic engineering, genome-wide approaches, the metabolic consequences of genetic modification, developments in traditional medicines and nutraceuticals, natural products as leads for drug discovery and novel non-food crops.




Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources


Book Description

Interest in obtaining biologically active compounds from natural sources has recently spiked due to their low toxicity, complete biodegradability, availability from renewable sources, and in most cases, low cost. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Isolation, Characterization, and Biological Properties covers general methods and main topics in the research field of bioactive natural products. The book describes general screening methods, modern HPLC hyphenated techniques, and NMR methods in the structural elucidation of compounds and devotes individual chapters to specific topics of research. Surveys on compounds displaying important pharmacological activities are presented in chapters devoted to Mexican medicinal plants, anti-tumor drugs of natural origin, cancer chemopreventive flavonoids, and metabolites displaying anti-HIV, antioxidative, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The final chapters are devoted to representative examples of research into marine metabolites: immunomodulating marine glycolipids and surveys of bioactive compounds from marine opisthobranchs and Japanese soft corals. With its focus on modern approaches to the isolation of biologically active natural products, this book encourages interdisciplinary work among chemists, pharmacologists, biologists, botanists, and agronomists with an interest in bioactive natural products.




Endophytic Fungi


Book Description

Endophytic Fungi: The Full Story of the Untapped Treasure covers the developments in endophytic fungal research from beginning to the end by the eminent researchers involved in the field. It sheds light on the endophytic fungal current research, challenges, and future possibilities, the trending recent topics in the plant-fungal endophytes' biodynamics for sustainable development of bioproducts and its applications are supported in large-scale biosynthesis of industrially and pharmaceutical important biomolecules. Endophytic Fungi: The Full Story of the Untapped Treasure highlights the bioprospecting and applied aspects of endophytic fungal communities from diverse hosts and discusses the practical applications of such endophytes in detail. It also reviews recent strategies on alternative sustainable sources of medicines such as secondary metabolites of fungi instead of over collection of plants under prohibiting of biodiversity conventions. The uniqueness of this book is the inclusion of updated bioinformatics-based strategies and its importance in bioactive molecules produced by endophytic fungi. The book addresses one of the most eminent issues in this field: how to translate the potential that endophytic fungi hold in stable practical application. Covers major concepts of plant-fungi interaction, biodiversity of endophytic fungi from diverse and biotechnological applications for sustainable development Is extensively illustrated and clearly written, using easy-to-understand language, sharing the latest developments and potential of fungal products for various applications Sheds light on the endophytic fungal current research, challenges, and future possibilities




Phytochemicals


Book Description

Phytochemicals provides original research work and reviews on the sources of phytochemicals, and their roles in disease prevention, supplementation, and accumulation in fruits and vegetables. The roles of anthocyanin, flavonoids, carotenoids, and taxol are presented in separate chapters. Antioxidative and free radicle scavenging activity of phytochemicals is also discussed. The medicinal properties of Opuntia, soybean, sea buckthorn, and gooseberry are presented in a number of chapters. Supplementation of plant extract with phytochemical properties in broiler meals is discussed in one chapter. The final two chapters include the impact of agricultural practices and novel processing technologies on the accumulation of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables. This book mainly focuses on medicinal plants and the disease-preventing properties of phytochemicals, which will be a useful resource to the reader.




Nutraceuticals


Book Description

Nutraceuticals: Efficacy, Safety and Toxicity, Second Edition, brings together everything that is currently known about nutraceuticals and their potential toxic effects. The book introduces readers to nutraceuticals, herbal medicines, Ayurvedic medicines, prebiotics, probiotics, adaptogens, and their uses and specific applications. This essential reference discusses the mechanism of action for the judicious use of these nutraceuticals and the best tools for their evaluation before detailing the safety and toxicity of nutraceuticals and interactions with other therapeutic drugs. Finally, and crucially, regulatory aspects from around the world are covered. Completely revised and updated, this updated edition provides toxicologists, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical scientists, and those interested in medicinal plants and natural products with a comprehensive overview of the most effective tools upon which to evaluate the safety and toxicity of nutraceuticals, prebiotics, probiotics and alternative medicines. Presents a completely revised and updated resource on the impact of nutraceuticals and various disease states such as diabetes and ophthalmic and dermal diseases Grants an overview of the current state-of-the-science of nutraceuticals, their use and applications, and known adverse effects Provides effective tools to evaluate the potential toxicity of any nutraceutical Includes details of regulatory issues as written by international experts