Lessons on Caffeine, Cannabis & Co


Book Description

This textbook provides a structured, easy to understand and thorough insight into the mode of function of plant secondary metabolites in plants and humans. It explains the biosynthesis and molecular action of nicotine, cannabis, caffeine and Co, describes the effects of these drugs on signal transduction at receptors and ion channels in animals, their relevance for human health and their potential for recreational use and abuse. It also offers a broad and comprehensive understanding on the role and function of these diverse molecules for the plants that make them. This textbook is written for master students and scientist in biochemistry and biology as well as for pharmaceutical and medical students. It will be a valuable study tool for teachers and students alike.




Coffee And Cannabis


Book Description

Coffee represents a cultural movement that reached its peak during the first decade of the 2000s and reinvented itself in multiple opportunities to maintain its leading role in today's culture. These innovation processes have transformed coffee from a typical artisanal cup of dark, bitter, and hot liquid to a worldwide industry. Nowadays, coffee is usually mixed with spices, liquors, dairy products, and more. Coffee has taken its status as a social beverage to the next level and has made its way into international gastronomy. Although that classic cup of black coffee continues to be a sought-after item, in most establishments specializing in this beverage, a cup of coffee is a work of visual and gustatory art, made by professionals in the field, known as baristas. Coffee has become a powerful industry, and one of its most recent allies is cannabis. The Cannabis industry, on the other hand, has been present in the human culture for millennia, though it had an abrupt interruption at the beginning of the 20th century when classified as an illegal narcotic due to its psychoactive properties. With the availability of new medical research technologies and the progressive easing of use restrictions, both medicinal and recreational, the spotlight is on cannabis as a substance with multiple beneficial effects for health in general. However, this plant should be used with caution, given the absence of knowledge regarding its effects on our organism. Cannabis is on the rise due to its connection with industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and recently coffee. Cannabis coffee is a relatively recent topic. Socially speaking, there seems to be a great interest on the part of Cannabis consumers in incorporating the plant or its derivatives in multiple elements of everyday life, as part of meals and even in their morning coffee. However, despite the social interest in quickly adopting this fusion, scientifically, this is a much delicate subject. One of the main components of coffee is caffeine, which has also been cataloged as a psychoactive substance due to the stimulating effect it exerts on the central nervous system. Similarly, cannabinoids, the main chemical components of cannabis, also act on the nervous system, but produce slightly different effects, as both stimulants and depressants, which translates into states of euphoria or relaxation. Thus, the possible effects that the interaction between these two psychoactive substances may have on the organism is the subject of interest for many scientists, due to their presumed action on brain systems as memory and learning. In this book, we explore the link between cannabis and caffeine and those areas of the nervous system impacted by these substances, and the possible effects that could arise from their interaction in the body. Likewise, we will go through the benefits and risks that this combination could bring. Finally, you will learn some anecdotes from users and the homemade ways of preparing this combination of Cannabis and coffee. Join us to explore the exciting link between the two!




Coffee in Health and Disease Prevention


Book Description

Coffee in Health and Disease Prevention, Second Edition, presents a comprehensive look at the compounds in coffee, their benefits (or adverse effects), and explores coffee as it relates to specific health conditions. Embracing a holistic approach, this book covers the coffee plant, coffee production and processing, the major varieties of coffee, and its nutritional and compositional properties. Coffee's impact on human health, disease risk, and prevention comprises the majority of the text. Diseases covered including Alzheimer's, anxiety and depression, asthma, diabetes, cancer, and more. This book also covers coffee's impact on organs and organ systems, including the cardiovascular system, the nervous system, and the gut microbiome.Coffee in Health and Disease Prevention, Second Edition, is the only book on the market that covers all varieties of coffee in one volume and their potential benefits and risks to human health. This is an essential reference for researchers in nutrition, dietetics, food science, biochemistry, and public health. - Presents a comprehensive, translational source on the role of coffee in disease prevention and health - Focuses on coffee's nutritional and protective aspects, as well as specific coffee components and their effects on tissue and organ systems - Offers a "one stop shop" for research in this area, compiling both foundational and cutting-edge topics into one resource - Includes a dictionary of key terms, other health effects of coffee or extracts, and a summary points section within each chapter for a quick reference




Herbal Treatment of Anxiety


Book Description

Herbal Treatment of Anxiety: Clinical Studies in Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic Traditions explains the nature and types of anxiety, its neurobiology, the pathophysiology that exacerbates and perpetuates it, and the psychopharmacology of the chemical agents that relieve its manifestations. Throughout the text are discussions of Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal treatments that have been clinically shown to be effective in relieving anxiety. The book also features a scientific discussion of the use of herbs and essential oils in aromatherapy and the mechanisms by which they may work. The book concludes by providing bases upon which herbs can be chosen to treat the anxiety of patients according to their individual needs. Additional features include: Examines the increasingly popular subject of the use of herbs as a natural alternative treatment and provides a much-needed scientific basis for treatments often considered as merely "folk medicine." Discusses the psychoactive phytochemicals contained in herbs. Includes a chapter discussing the nature and mechanisms of action of adaptogens. Adds to the armamentarium of anxiolytics for providers who have become reluctant to prescribe benzodiazepines as treatment of anxiety, particularly in the context of the opiate crisis. Gives an introduction to herbal treatments of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Offers practical advice on initiating and managing herbal treatments. Herbal Treatment of Anxiety is a valuable reference for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, primary care providers, naturopathic doctors and therapists interested in the most current scientific information on the effects of herbal treatments of anxiety disorders.







Microbial Bioprocessing of Agri-food Wastes


Book Description

This book gives a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste and discusses the main process conditions needed to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials. It also discusses specific methodologies, opportunistic microbes for biomass valorization, the sustainable production of agri-food waste, as well as examines the assessment and management of bioactive molecules production from microbial-valorization of agri-food waste. The authors provide technical concepts on the production of various bio-products and their commercial interest including agri-food waste utilization in the microbial synthesis of proteins, the valorization of horticulture waste, the sustainable production of pectin via microbial fermentation, as well as other food and pharmacological applications. This book is intended for bioengineers, biologists, biochemists, biotechnologists, microbiologists, food technologists, enzymologists, and related professionals and researchers. Explores recent advances in the valorization of agri-food waste Provides technical concepts on the production of various bio-products of commercial interest Discusses the main process conditions to overcome the difficulties of using waste as alternative raw materials Introduces technical-economic details on the advantages and disadvantages of exploring the waste recovery chain Explores the main technological advances in the recovery of residues in functional products




Medicinal and Aromatic Plants


Book Description

Before the concept of history began, humans undoubtedly acquired life benefits by discovering medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) that were food and medicine. Today, a variety of available herbs and spices are used and enjoyed throughout the world and continue to promote good health. The international market is also quite welcoming for MAPs and essential oils. The increasing environment and nature conscious buyers encourage producers to produce high quality essential oils. These consumer choices lead to growing preference for organic and herbal based products in the world market. As the benefits of medicinal and aromatic plants are recognized, these plants will have a special role for humans in the future. Until last century, the production of botanicals relies to a large degree on wild-collection. However, the increasing commercial collection, largely unmonitored trade, and habitat loss lead to an incomparably growing pressure on plant populations in the wild. Therefore, medicinal and aromatic plants are of high priority for conservation. Given the above, we bring forth a comprehensive volume, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Healthcare and Industrial Applications”, highlighting the various healthcare, industrial and pharmaceutical applications that are being used on these immensely important MAPs and its future prospects. This collection of chapters from the different areas dealing with MAPs caters to the need of all those who are working or have interest in the above topic.




Actinobacteria


Book Description

This book summarizes the basics of actinobacteria, from microbiology to synthetic biology. It focuses on diversity, NRPS, sesquiterpenes, lantipeptide, bioinformatics apparatuses, cloning, CRISPR, reverse engineering, FDA supported medications, and marine actinobacteria. It also covers the latest trends in drug discovery from actinobacteria, and introduces several recently developed bioinformatics and synthetic biology tools to explore new antibiotics from actinobacteria. Many natural products such as polyketides, isoprenoids, phenazines, peptides, indolocarbarbazoles, sterols, and others have been isolated and characterized from actinobacteria. Some products are synthesized by the non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), polyketide synthases (PKSs), or other functional genes. Although genome sequencing has uncovered the differing qualities of these chemicals, recognizing new items and their biosynthetic pathways is still under examination. Cryptic metabolic pathways have been explored using molecular techniques or culture-dependent approaches. In recent years, researchers’ primary interest is to identify the specific conditions or agents that wake the cryptic antibiotics. Several bioinformatics and synthetic biology tools were developed to explore new antibiotics from actinobacteria. The book comprises 14 chapters with different aspects of application and utilization of actinomycetes from the microbiology; systems biology, pharmacology of natural products, bioinformatics, actinomycete and its diversity, CRISPR, artificial Intelligence, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, expressional studies, and biosynthetic gene clusters. The book delivers useful information on actinomyces to researchers, novices in genome designing, specialists, clinicians, policymakers, and professionals.




Biodiversity, Functional Ecosystems and Sustainable Food Production


Book Description

In recent decades, practices like the cultivation of a few high-yielding crop varieties on a large scale, the application of heavy machinery and continued mechanization of agriculture, the removal of natural habitats, and the application of pesticides and synthetics have resulted in the simplification of agro-ecosystems. This has enabled a substantial increase in food production but has at the same time transformed landscapes. Indeed, there is a concern that a decline in biodiversity has affected microbiome activities that support processes across soils, plants, animals, the marine environment, and humans. Although they have increased food production, the above practices cannot be considered sustainable in long-term applications. Biodiversity, Functional Ecosystems, and Sustainable Food Production explore ecosystems in terms of crop and animal production, pest and disease control, nutrient cycling, and soil fertility. Chapters range from agro-biodiversity to antimicrobial use in animal food production to microbiome applications for sustainable food systems and the impacts of environment-friendly unit operations on the functional properties of bee pollen. By examining such topics about each other, the text emphasizes how food production, ecosystem function, food quality, and consumer health are all interconnected.




Plants as Bioreactors for Industrial Molecules


Book Description

PLANTS AS BIOREACTORS FOR INDUSTRIAL MOLECULES An incisive and practical discussion of how to use plants as bioreactors In Plants as Bioreactors for Industrial Molecules, a team of distinguished researchers delivers an insightful and global perspective on the use of plants as bioreactors. In the book, you’ll find coverage of the basic, applied, biosynthetic, and translational approaches to the exploitation of plant technology in the production of high-value biomolecules. The authors focus on the yield and quality of amino acids, vitamins, and carbohydrates. The authors explain how high-value biomolecules enable developers to create cost-effective biological systems for the production of biomolecules useful in a variety of sectors. They provide a holistic approach to plant-based biological devices to produce natural molecules of relevance to the health and agriculture industries. Readers will also find: A thorough overview of plants as bioreactors and discussions of molecular farming for the production of pharmaceutical proteins in plants Comprehensive explorations of plants as edible vaccines and plant cell culture for biopharmaceuticals Practical discussions of the production of attenuated viral particles as vaccines in plants and insecticidal protein production in transgenic plants Extensive treatment of the regulatory challenges involved in using plants as bioreactors Perfect for academics, scientists, and researchers in industrial microbiology and biotechnology, Plants as Bioreactors for Industrial Molecules will also earn a place in the libraries of biotechnology company professionals in applied product development.