Natural product preparations in the past and even today have been the major source of numerous highly potent pharmaceutical agents, and indeed, more than 90% of current therapeutic classes have been derived from a natural product prototype. Interestingly, even today, roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of the world's population relies upon medicinal plants for its primary pharmaceutical care. This is due to their greater potency and lesser side effects. During the past two decades, traditional systems of medicine have become a subject of global importance and about thirty per cent of the worldwide sales of drugs is based on natural products. Majority of the population in most developing countries continue to use bioactive natural products for their common health needs has resulted in increased concern about efficacy, safety and clinical evaluation of these products.
Autorentext
Dr. Vijay Kumar Gupta, Ph.D., FLS, London (born 1953-) Deputy Director & Head, Animal House, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Jammu, India. He did his M.Sc. (1975) and Ph.D. (1979) in Zoology both from University of Jammu, Jammu-India. His research capabilities are substantiated by his excellent work on histopathology, ecology and reproductive biology of fishes, turtles, birds and mammals, which has already got recognition in India and abroad. Dr. Gupta has to his credit more than 75 scientific publications and review articles which have appeared in internationally recognized Indian and foreign journals. Founder fellow, life member and office bearer of many national societies, academies and associations. He has successfully completed a number of research/consultancy projects funded by various governments, private and multinational agencies. His current areas of interest are histopathology, toxicology, pre-clinical safety pharmacology and reproductive efficacy studies of laboratory animals. He is also Editor-in-chief of the books 1) Utilisation and Management of Medicinal Plants 2) Medicinal Plants: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Therapeutics 3) Perspectives in Animal Ecology and Reproduction (Vols.1-6). The Editor-in-chief of the American Biographical Institute, USA, has appointed him as Consulting Editor of The Contemporary Who's Who. Dr. Gupta also appointed as Nominee for the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA, Govt. of India). Recently the Linnaean Society of London, U.K. has awarded fellowship to him in November 2009 in recognition of his contribution towards the cultivation of knowledge in Science of Natural History.