Medicinal Plants: Bioprospecting and Pharmacognosy [Paperback]

Looks at the bioprospecting of medicinal plants for potential health uses and at the pharmacognosy of a selection of medicinal and aromatic plants, such as to treat inflammation, anti-hyperglycemia, and obesity and as immunity boosters. It discusses the conservation, maintenance, and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants.

With chapters written by scientists from respected institutes and universities around the world, this book looks at the bioprospecting of medicinal plants for potential health uses and at the pharmacognosy of a selection of medicinal and aromatic plants.

The book touches on a diverse selection of topics related to medicinal plants. Chapters look at the use of medicinal plants in healthcare and disease management, such as to treat inflammation, antihyperglycemia, and obesity and as immunity boosters. The authors also address the conservation, maintenance, and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants along with postharvest management issues. A chapter discusses the use of synthetic seeds in relation to cryopreservation, and a chapter is devoted to the use of microcomputed tomography and image processing tools in medicinal and aromatic plants. Other topics include consumption, supply chain, marketing, trade, and future directions of research.

Amit Baran Sharangi, PhD, is Professor of Horticultural Science and former Head of the Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops in the Faculty of Horticulture at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (Agricultural University), India. He has been teaching for 23 years and was instrumental in the process of coconut improvement, leading to the release of a variety Kalpa Mitra from the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute. He spent time at several laboratories around the world and has published many research papers, conference papers, book chapters, and books. One of his papers was ranked alsy