The Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Ethnomedicinal Plants

This book addresses the resurgence of interest in the rediscovery of ethnomedicinal plants as a source of potential ethnomedicines. In the 21st century, the pharmacological effects of medicinal plants are considered to have a promising future as drugs and medicines for the management of healthcare. Considering the extremely high cost and length of time needed for the development of new drugs, as well as the high drug attrition rate, pharmaceutical companies and researchers continue to explore new ways for drug R&D and focus more attention on the benefits of ethnomedical plants as a source of new compounds for drugs.

The research provided in this timely volume examines the development and characterization of new natural drugs from medicinal plants with the aid of better screening methods. The chapters survey specific medicinal plant species and describe the characteristics of each, how the plants work, and their applications for healthcare. The authors provide research on plants from Western Ghats and adjoining areas for ethnomedicinal investigation because this area is very rich in phytodiversity and tribal traditions in phytotherapy and the plants surveyed have applications beyond this region.

This book is a valuable medical compendium of plants and is intended as a guide and reference resource for professionals in the field. It reviews the current status of ethnomedicinal plants research in light of the surge in the demand for herbal medicine as a future source of new therapeutics.

1. An Ethnomedicinal Survey on Traditionally Used Legumes: An Attempt toward Preservation of Ethnic Knowledge 2. Ethnobotany of Valaiyans: A Pilot Study 3. Ethnomedicinal Plants of the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Forest: An Appraisal 4. An Exploration on the Indigenous Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by the Palliyar Community of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary 5. Exploration of Medicinal Plants and Antibacterial Activity of Garcinia cambogia Desr 6. Therapeutic Values of Ethnomedicinal Plants as a Relief of Body Pain Practiced by Palliyars 7. An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Fever, Cold, and Cough (FCC) by Palliyars 8. Chemopreventive Effects of Natural Bioactive Compounds from the Genus Goniothalamus: A Review and Perspectives 9. Ethnomedicinal Practices of Aegle marmelos in the Eastern Ghats of India 10. Phytochemicals and Biological Activities of Adenium obesum: A Review 11. Nothapodytes nimmoniana: A Review of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects 12. A Review of a Potential Medicinal Herb Mollugo 13. A Review on Phytochemistry, Pharamacognosy, and Pharmacology of Rungia repens (L.) Nees 14. Cymbidium aloifolium: A Review of Its Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology 15. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies of Oak Leaf Fern, Drynaria quercifolia (L.) J. Sm.: A Review 16. Nutritional and Bioactive Components of Ethnically Valued Seeds of Mangrove Wild Legume Sesbania speciosa 17. Total Lipids and Fatty Acid Methyl Esters of Ethnically Edible Seeds of Madhuca neriifolia 18. Medicinal Plants with Hypoglycemic Effects: An Overview 19. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies of Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Ex. G. Don 20. Chemoprofiling of Vitex trifolia L.

V. R. Mohan, PhD is the former Head and Associate Professor of Botany at V. O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi, India.

P. S. Tresina, PhD is Assistant Professor of Botany at V. O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin, India.

A. Doss, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Botany at V. O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi, India.