Studies on phytoconstituents from medicinal plants have experienced a great deal of changes during the last century, not only regarding the number of compounds described, but also in the concept of action and mechanism of phytoconstituents itself. Since the drug discovery process increasingly requires the availability of large number of compounds chemicals in nature offers a valuable source; for example, secondary metabolites, previously regarded as waste products are now recognized for their resistant activity against diseases and pests. Based on this rationale the present volume provides 26 research and review articles contributed by the eminent scientists from far and wide including Canada, China, India, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Slovak Republic, Spain and USA with a view to bring the scientific data to the attention of international scientific community. Some of the important 19 medicinal plants (Astragalus, Cimicifuga, Cinnamomum tamala, Curcuma longa, Diospyros kaki, Ficus benghalensis, Ficus exasperata, Lablab purpureus, Lagenaria breviflora, Lepidium meyenii, Mentha piperita, Peltigera canina, Piper longum, Rhodiola rosea, Sedum praealtum, Solanum villosum, Terminalia chebula, Thalictrum, Vaccinium macrocarpon ) have been explored for bioactive compounds. Also new analytical methodologies have been developed for their determination. The chapter on Natural Bioactive Cycloartane Triterpenoids in plants has shown to possess unique structures and cellular mechanisms of action and might prove to have potential for medical applications in various diseases like anti-tumor, anti-virus, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammations, immune regulatory, cardiovascular system, nervous system and hepatoprotective effects. Reservatrol a natural phytoalexin has been presented as a potential new functional molecule for obesity and insulin resistance prevention. The review on Rhodiola rosea L. provides an overview of in vitro propagation methods coupled with highlighting the research efforts for various phenolic compounds. Microbes have an important niche in the pharma sector as they produce thousands of industrially important bioactive molecules including antimicrobials. Three chapters have been presented to identify novel inhibitors for microbial pathogens by the use of classical and modern techniques. Terminalia chebula showed bioactive compounds which kill various drug resistant microbial pathogens including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pathogenesis related proteins showed an important role in plant responses to heavy metal stress. The phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables hold promising potential in the development of health foods; nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for the application as antioxidants and cancer chemopreventive agents. An attempt has been made to understand the Universe of Food Quality & Safety and need of paradigm shift is highlighted to provide a sustainable solution. Simultaneously, the chapter on Modified Atmospheric Packaging has defined conditions that will create the optimum atmosphere inside the package best suited for extending shelf-life of a given produce with shortest possible time-period. The findings presented would serve as basic material for further work in developing new phyto-therapeutics. The volume has been addressed to phytochemists, pharmacologists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, medical scientists and other researchers engaged in the search of natural products.
Autorentext
Dr. Amani Shafiq Awaad was born on 25th August in 1963 in Cairo, Egypt. She completed her B.Sc and M. Sc in Pharmaceutical Science from the College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh and Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy from College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo in 1995. She started her professional career as Assistant Researcher of Pharmacognosy (1994-1996 & 1999-2001) and worked as Head of Natural Products Unit (2000-2006) at the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Department, Desert Research Centre, Cairo. She also worked as Post Doctoral Researcher (1997-1998) at School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, Portsmouth University, U.K. and Post Doctoral Associate Professor (2003-2004) at Bradford University, U.K. in between. She has been working as Professor of Pharmacognosy since 2006 at Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She has been actively involved in Teaching and Research Guidance of students. She has handled several research projects. She is serving as Member of several important committees of the University and referee/editor for many journals of repute. She is also a member of several Professional Societies at National and International level. She is widely traveled and has attended several International Conferences. She has more than 30 research papers published in research journals of national and international repute and two technical bulletins to her credit. She has received several national and international awards for outstanding contribution in the field Aromatic and Medicinal Plants.
Geetanjali Kaushik is a PhD (Environmental Sciences) from IIT Delhi with a research experience of over five years. She obtained her M.Sc. (Environmental Studies) from TERI New Delhi in 2005. She graduated in 2003 with Golden Jubilee and Silver Jubilee Awards of Excellence and Second University Rank from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Geetanjali Kaushik has published more than 15 research papers in International Journals of repute such as Canadian Journal - Food Research International, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biologist (FASEB), and Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism (published from Italy), Agronomy for Sustainable Development and Energy and Buildings. She has also presented papers in various reputed international conferences held abroad. In International Conference, TROPENTAG-2007 held in Germany she was awarded First Prize among 221 participants from 72 Countries, subsequently she presented papers in Washington DC (American Institute for Cancer Research) and San Deigo, California, USA (Experimental Biology Meet 2008). She received full sponsorship of US$ 3000 from American Society for Nutrition to participate in the International Conference Experimental Biology 2008. She is a member of American Society for Nutrition, International Mountain Forum and Young Professionals' Platform for Agricultural Research for Development (YPARD). She is acting as reviewer of 5 International Journals of repute. She has to her credit 6 International book chapters on invitation from various international publishers such as Nova Science Publishers, NewYork (USA) and Studium Press, Houston (USA). She has also worked as a Research Associate with the University of California (Berkley campus) in Delhi Air Quality Monitoring study held in 2010. Earlier she has worked with Centre for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Studies, Deen Bandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal (Haryana). Currently she is working as Assistant Professor with the Department of Civil Engg and Environmental Sciences, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun (Uttaranchal).