Herbal Medicines
Development and Validation of Plant-derived Medicines for Human Health
Clinical Pharmacognosy Series

The deregulation of dietary supplements and natural products marketing by the FDA has widened the natural products market in Europe and worldwide. While the discussion about the validity of the plant approach to nutrition and diseases treatment continues, the explosion of the use of whatever is considered "natural" has generated concern about effectiveness and danger.

Incorporating information ranging from regulatory aspects to clinical trial and vigilance, Herbal Medicines: Development and Validation of Plant-Derived Medicines for Human Health:

• Provides a reference model for those who would like to start the R&D process for a natural product



• Discusses fundamental issues in the development of traditional medicines for the benefit of human health



• Takes a sequential rational approach to the subject matter



• Brings awareness to the many problems facing the development of medicinal herbal products, such as quality control, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic issues

This book takes readers on a rational path for development of efficacious medicinal herbal products. It points out the many problems facing the development of these products, such as quality control, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic issues. It suggests areas where future developments should occur given healthcare needs and public health considerations.

The European Legislation (Directive 2004/24/EC) Brings Clarification and Recognition to Herbal Medicinal Products. Taxonomy, Morphology, and Ecology of Medicinal Plants: A Botanical Perspective. Ethnopharmacological Approaches Used to Identify Medicinal Plants. Medicinal Plants: Molecular Biology/Biotechnology Approach. Breeding and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants. Sample Preparation, Analytical Methods, and Chemical Standardization of Medicinal Plants. The Role of Zebrafish in the Future of Natural Product Discovery. Phytocomplexes versus Single-Entity Drugs. Molecular Modes of Action of Drugs Used in Phytomedicine. Bioavailability Issues of Nonnutrient Plant and Fruit Constituents. From Identification to Clinical Translation of Medicinal Plants. Recommendations for Reporting Randomized Controlled Trials of Herbal Medicine Interventions. Pharmacovigilance Methods and Systems in Herbal Medicines. Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance of Herb–Drug Interactions from the Perspectives of Pharmacokinetics. Nature’s Gift to Photodynamic Medicine: Hypericin, a Herbal Photosensitizer, Is a Component of Hypericum perforatum. Plants and Plant-Derived Products as Cancer Chemopreventive Agents. From Standard Tanacetum parthenium Extract to a Stabilized Derivative of Parthenolide: Studies in Animal Models of Pain. Antiviral Effects of Essential Oils Used Traditionally in Phytomedicine. The Neuroprotective Capacity of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D.C. and Its Flavonoids: Mechanisms of Action. Recent Progress in Echinacea Research. Contribution of Herbal Medicine to Human Health: A Brief History. Quality Issues of Current Herbal Medicines. Herbal Medicines in the Developing World: South America. Herbal Medicines: Epidemiology of Their Utilization—A Perspective on the Industrialized World. Index.