Neem: Today and in the New Millennium


Book Description

The chemicals from plant sources, generally termed as phytochemicals, play an important role in acceptance or rejection of the plant by the pests as they could be distasteful or toxic on one hand or on the other hand specialist herbivores have the capability to feed on many such chemicals, as they are able to process these natural products in a manner that is beneficial to them. In the wake of increasing environmental degradation due to burgeoning synthetic chemicals, there has been a process going on to rediscover the usefulness of plants and herbs and a continued effort for more than 2 decades has been to study the green products for cures for several ailments and pest management. In fact, according to Indian Medicinal Plants: A Sectoral Study, the global trade for medicinal plants amounts to about US $ 60 billion and the world demand continues to grow at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Although many such plants are known in literature, neem has been one of trees with mani-fold virtues. Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is a large evergreen tree, is an outstanding example among plants that has been subject matter of numerous scientific studies concerning its utilization in medicine, industry and agriculture. So far neem preparations have been evaluated against more than 500 species of insects and more than 400 hundred are reported to be susceptible at different concentrations.




Insect-Borne Diseases in the 21st Century


Book Description

Insect-Borne Diseases in the 21st Century provides a comprehensive look at the most notorious diseases carried by insects. It offers an assessment of current and potential insect-vectored diseases as they relate to human health and agricultural and livestock production. Written by a leading expert in insect-borne diseases, it examines the history of insect-borne diseases, beginning with those that have been well-known to scientists for decades, also including recent outbreaks like Zika. The book takes into consideration environmental conditions and climate change and explores the bionetworks and system biology of potential new superorganisms, offering preventative and protective solutions. This is a must-have resource for entomology researchers and students who seek the most up-to-date information on disease-causing pathogens transmitted by insects. This book will also serve as a resource for ordinary people whose lives may be affected by such diseases. - Details the leading insect-transmitted diseases, including malaria, West Nile, Zika, dengue, yellow fever and Xylella - Examines containment issues, including resistance phenomena among insects and microorganisms - Offers alternative solutions to protection and prevention, including natural and environmentally-friendly insecticides




Ethnobotany


Book Description

Ethnobotany: A Phytochemical Perspective explores the chemistry behind hundreds of plant medicines, dyes, fibers, flavors, poisons, insect repellants, and many other uses of botanicals. Bridging the gap between ethnobotany and chemistry, this book presents an introduction to botany, ethnobotany, and phytochemistry to clearly join these fields of study and highlight their importance in the discovery of botanical uses in modern industry and research. Part I. Ethnobotany, explores the history of plant exploration, current issues such as conservation and intellectual property rights, and a review of plant anatomy. An extensive section on plant taxonomy highlights particularly influential and economically important plants from across the plant kingdom. Part II. Phytochemistry, provides fundamentals of secondary metabolism, includes line drawings of biosynthetic pathways and chemical structures, and describes traditional and modern methods of plant extraction and analysis. The last section is devoted to the history of native plants and people and case studies on plants that changed the course of human history from five geographical regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Ocean. Throughout the entire book, vivid color photographs bring science to life, capturing the essence of human botanical knowledge and the beauty of the plant kingdom.




Neem


Book Description

The present edited volume Neem: A Treatise provides a comprehensive account of this wonder tree Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss). An excellent reference text, it offers a versatile and in-depth discussion of the following: the occurrence of neem, its distribution, ethnobotany, uses in agroforestry, silviculture and social forestry, cultivation and improvement of neem, propagation by tissue culture, chemical constituents and their bioactivity against micro-flora and micro-fauna, disease, stored grain insect-pests, enhancing fertilizer use efficiency, neem in health and cosmetics, various therapeutic uses such as malaria and vector control, contraceptive, ancient veterinary medicines, uses of neem bark in dying cotton fabrics, and steps for promoting neem and its cultivation. This book will be very useful for researchers of various disciplines such as botany, forestry, chemistry, toxicology, agrochemicals, soil science, agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, medical, and veterinary science, as well as to the environmental conscious farmers of developed and developing countries.




Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the New Millennium


Book Description

During the past several years tremendous advancements have been made in the field of pharmacology and therapeutics. While new therapeutic strategies are coming up, old ones are being improved by modifications, or being replaced with newer ones. The major topics covered in this book include: endothelins, current topics in cardiovascular research, molecular pharmacology, recent developments in cancer research, antioxidants, oxidants and human disease, herbal drugs, developments in neuropharmacology, myelin biology and demyelinating disease, pharmacovigilance, role of cytokines in health and disease, ocular pharmacology, detoxification of xenobiotics-biotransformation and transport, and several other topics of current interest. The aim of this book is to fulfill the needs of the basic and clinical researchers as well as the students, particularly related to areas of current interest in pharmacology and therapeutics.




Nano-Biopesticides Today and Future Perspectives


Book Description

Nano-Biopesticides Today and Future Perspectives is the first single-volume resource to examine the practical development, implementation and implications of combining the environmentally aware use of biopesticides with the potential power of nanotechnology. While biopesticides have been utilized for years, researchers have only recently begun exploring delivery methods that utilize nanotechnology to increase efficacy while limiting the negative impacts traditionally seen through the use of pest control means. Written by a panel of global experts, the book provides a foundation on nano-biopesticide development paths, plant health and nutrition, formulation and means of delivery. Researchers in academic and commercial settings will value this foundational reference of insights within the biopesticide realm. - Provides comprehensive insights, including relevant information on environmental impact and safety, technology development, implementation, and intellectual property - Discusses the role of nanotechnology and its potential applications as a nanomaterial in crop protection for a cleaner and greener agriculture - Presents a strategic, comprehensive and forward-looking approach




Novel Compounds from Natural Products in the New Millennium


Book Description

There is continuing interest in natural products as sources of potentially new and exciting chemical compounds. This book brings together the knowledge, perspectives and research findings of a varied group of scientists on a wide range of topics, from microarrays, genetics and bioinformatics to yeast-based technologies and enzyme studies. Scientists and clinicians in life science research will find useful information on new research techniques and tools. For the agriculturist, there is interesting information on the potential and problems of natural-based pesticides. The cancer researcher will find several plant sources with potential anti-cancer and immunomodulating compounds, as well as a report on two new modalities in cancer therapy ? photosensitization with hypericin and immunotherapy. Latest developments of Chinese herbal extracts reported in this book may offer a new alternative therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the later chapters awaken the would-be entrepreneur to the opportunities and challenges of research and development in the natural product industry, with the concluding chapter providing helpful insights into Intellectual Property Law.




Top 100 Exotic Food Plants


Book Description

Many edible plants considered exotic in the Western world are actually quite mainstream in other cultures. While some of these plants are only encountered in ethnic food markets or during travels to foreign lands, many are now finding their way onto supermarket shelves. Top 100 Exotic Food Plants provides comprehensive coverage of tropical and semi




Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants and Herbal Treatments


Book Description

Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with metabolic disorder. Persons suffering from diabetes have shown accelerated levels of blood sugar which often harms the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Over the past few decades, the prevalence of diabetes has been progressively increasing. Synthetic drugs are used to treat diabetic patients to help control the disorder, but it is shown that numerous medicinal plants and herbal drugs are widely used in several traditional systems of medicine to prevent and treat diabetes. They are reported to produce beneficial effects in combating diabetes and alleviating diabetes-related complications. These plants contain phtyonutrients and phytoconstituents demonstrating protective or disease preventive properties. In many developing countries, herbal drugs are recommended by traditional practitioners for diabetes treatment because the use of synthetic drugs is not affordable. Key Features: Provides botanical descriptions, distribution, and pharmacological investigations of notable medicinal and herbal plants used to prevent or treat diabetes Discusses phytochemical and polyherbal formulations for the management of diabetes and other related complications Contains reports on antidiabetic plants and their potential uses in drug discovery based on their bioactive molecules This volume in the Exploring Medicinal Plants series provides an overview of natural healing treatments in selected antidiabetic plants. The book presents valuable information to scientists, researchers, and students working with medicinal plants or for those specializing in areas of ethnobotany, natural products, pharmacognosy, and other areas of allied healthcare. It is also useful to pharmaceutical companies, industrialists, and health policy makers.




Natural Products in Plant Pest Management


Book Description

This book contains 13 chapters which deal with the current state and future prospects of botanical pesticides in the eco-friendly management of plant pests. Different issues, including the global scenario on the application of botanical pesticides, plant products in the control of mycotoxins, the commercial application of botanical pesticides and their prospects in green consumerism, natural products as allelochemicals, their efficacy against viral diseases and storage pests, and bioactive products from fungal endophytes, are covered. The book may be useful to many, including plant pathologists, microbiologists, entomologists, plant scientists and natural product chemists. It is expected that the book will be a source of inspiration to many for future developments in the field. It is also hoped that the book will become useful for those engaged in such an extraordinary and attractive area. The book would serve as the key reference for recent developments in frontier research on natural products in the management of agricultural pests and also for the scientists working in this area.