Medicinal plants

About: Medicinal plants is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3816 publications have been published within this topic receiving 108681 citations. The topic is also known as: medicinal herbs & medicinal plants.

Antidiabetic agents from medicinal plants.

Abstract: Currently available therapeutic options for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, such as dietary modification, oral hypoglycemics, and insulin, have limitations of their own. Many natural products and herbal medicines have been recommended for the treatment of diabetes. The present paper reviews medicinal plants that have shown experimental or clinical antidiabetic activity and that have been used in traditional systems of medicine; the review also covers natural products (active natural components and crude extracts) isolated from the medicinal plants and reported during 2001 to 2005. Many kinds of natural products, such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, and some others, have shown antidiabetic potential. Particularly, schulzeines A, B, and C, radicamines A and B, 2,5-imino-1,2,5-trideoxy-L-glucitol, beta-homofuconojirimycin, myrciacitrin IV, dehydrotrametenolic acid, corosolic acid (Glucosol), 4-(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid, and 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloylglucose have shown significant antidiabetic activities. Among active medicinal herbs, Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae), Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Leguminoceae), and Trigonella foenum graecum L. (Leguminosae) have been reported as beneficial for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Medicinal plants of the world

Abstract: Medicinal plants of the world , Medicinal plants of the world , کتابخانه دیجیتالی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات درمانی شهید بهشتی

Handbook Of Medicinal Plants

Abstract: * About the Editors * Contributors * Preface * PART I. INTRODUCTION * Chapter 1. Trends and Challenges in Phytomedicine: Research in the New Millennium (Hildebert Wagner) * Introduction * Quality Assurance of Medicinal Drugs and Phytopreparations * Search for New Bioactive Compounds and Chemical Modifications of Leading Compounds * Molecular-Biological Screening: Overall Pharmacological Profiles and Synergistic Effects * Clinical Trials, Pharmacokinetic Studies, and Bioavailability Studies * Scope and Aim of Phytomedicine in the Near Future * Conclusion * PART II. THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY * CHINESE MEDICINAL PLANTS * Chapter 2. History of Application of Medicinal Plants in China (Chang-Xiao Liu) * Introduction * Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs * Brief History of Application of Medicinal Plants * Medicinal Plants in China in the Past Century * Development of Resources * Chapter 3. Ethnopharmacology of Traditional Chinese Drugs from Medicinal Plants (Chang-Xiao Liu) * Introduction * Diaphoretics * Antitussive Expectorants and Antiasthmatics * Drugs Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness * Purgative Drugs * Drugs Expelling Wind and Dampness * Aromatic Drugs Transforming Dampness * Drugs Benefiting Urination and Draining Dampness * Drugs Warming the Interior * Drugs Regulating Qi * Drugs Relieving Food Stagnation * Drugs Expelling Parasites * Drugs Stopping Bleeding * Drugs Regulating Blood Conditions * Drugs Tranquilizing the Mind * Drugs Pacifying the Liver and Subduing Endogenous Wind * Drugs That Open Orifices * Tonics * Astringent Drugs * Chapter 4. Research and Development of New Drugs Originating from Chinese Medicinal Plants (Chang-Xiao Liu and Zohara Yaniv) * Introduction * Pathway of Research and Development from Chinese Traditional and Herbal Drugs * The Treatment Principles of Chinese Traditional Medicine * Valuable Clinical Results of the Application of National Minority Drugs * Active Compounds Isolated from Chinese Medicinal Plants * Types of Pharmacological Activities * The Challenges of Modern Research and the Development of Medicinal Plants * Conclusion * MEDICINAL PLANTS IN NATIVE CULTURES * Chapter 5. African Medicinal Plants (Ruth Kutalek and Armin Prinz) * Introduction * Strophantus spp., Apocynaceae * Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, Apocynaceae * Rauwolfia vomitoria Azfel (Apocynaceae) * Physostigma venenosum Balf. (Fabaceae) * Future Prospects * Chapter 6. Dilemmas and Solutions: Native American Plant Knowledge (Daniel E. Moerman) * A Mother's Dilemma * A Plant's Dilemma * Two Dilemmas Yield a Solution * Case Example: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) * Final Words * Chapter 7. Ethnobotany and Ethnomedicine of the Amazonian Indians (Sir Ghillean T. Prance) * Introduction * The Yanomami * Arrow Poisons * Narcotics and Stimulants * Fish Poisons * Conclusion * Chapter 8. Healers and Physicians in Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean Cultures (Alain Touwaide) * Traditional Historiography * Two Main Works * The Range of Materia Medica * Transformations of Texts over Time * Plant Representations * Conclusion * Chapter 9. Remedies from the Bush: Traditional Medicine Among the Australian Aborigines (Emanuela Appetiti) * Introduction * The Dreamtime * Plants and People * Treatment of Common Ailments * Women's Medicine * Two Remarkable Plants * Other Uses of Medicinal Plants * Nonplant Materia Medica * Conclusion * PART III. TECHNOLOGIES IN MEDICINAL PLANT RESEARCH * Chapter 10. Production and Breeding of Medicinal Plants (Eva Nemeth) * Short History of Medicinal Plant Production * The Present Situation and Characteristics of Medicinal Plant Cultivation in Europe * The Role and Significance of Harvesting from Wild Habitats * Characteristics of Breeding Medicinal Plants * Chapter 11. Biological Screening of Medicinal Plants (Ming-Wei Wang) * Introduction * Drug Discovery in Ancient Times * Random Drug Screening Using Animal Models * High-Throughput Screening Technologies * Future Prospects * Chapter 12. Biotechnology in Medicinal Crop Improvement (Efraim Lewinsohn and Ya'akov Tadmor) * Introduction * Utilization of DNA Markers in Medicinal Plants * Construction of Genetic Maps Utilizing DNA Markers * Utilization of Genetic Engineering in Medicinal Plants * Conclusion * Chapter 13. In Vitro Cultivation of Medicinal Plants (Christoph Wawrosch) * Introduction * Plant Tissue Culture Techniques * In Vitro Plant Propagation * In Vitro Production of Secondary Metabolites * Conclusion * PART IV. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN MEDICINAL APPLICATIONS * Chapter 14. Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Therapy of Cancer (David Mantle and Richard M. Wilkins) * Introduction * Mistletoe * Ginseng * Garlic * Chapter 15. Phytochemicals and Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease (D. Francesco Visioli, Simona Grande, and Claudio Galli) * Introduction * Plant-Derived Phenols * Soy * Cocoa * Tea * Wine * Olive Oil * Conclusion * Chapter 16. A Modern Look at Folkloric Use of Anti-Infective Agents (Lester A. Mitscher) * Introduction * Berberine * Sanguinarine * Quinine * Emetine * Individual Antimicrobial Medicinal Plants of Lesser Prominence * Conclusion * Chapter 17. Use of Medicinal Plants in CNS Disorders (Peter John Houghton) * Introduction * Disorders of the CNS * Plants and Derived Compounds Used to Treat Neurodegenerative Diseases * Plants and Derived Compounds Used As Anxiolytics, Tranquilizers, and Sedatives * Plants and Derived Compounds with Narcotic Effects * Plants and Derived Compounds Used As CNS Stimulants * Plants and Derived Compounds Used in Depression * Plants Used for Conditions That Display Excessive Aspects of Normal Function * Adaptogens * Conclusion * Chapter 18. Herbal Medicine in Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease (Graham Pinn) * Introduction * Gout * Diabetes Mellitus * Obesity * Hyperlipidemia * Thyroid Disorder * Menopause * Toxicity * Conclusion * Chapter 19. Bioactive Saponins from Plants: Recent Developments (Marie-Aleth Lacaille-Dubois) * Introduction * Anti-Inflammatory Activity * Hepatoprotective Activity * Cardiovascular Activity * Activity on the Central Nervous System * Hypoglycemic Activity * Antifungal Activity * Antiviral Activities * Anticancer and Immune System Related Activity * Conclusion * Chapter 20. Natural Products and Herbal Medicines in the Gastrointestinal Tract (Zohar Kerem) * Introduction * Antimicrobial Activities of Herbal Products * GI Immunoregulation * Chemical Considerations in the GI Tract * Herbal-Induced Drug Interactions in the GI Tract * Antioxidant and Reducing Activities of Herbal Products * Conclusion * PART V. HOPES AND DANGERS * Chapter 21. Challenges and Threats to Interdisciplinary Medicinal Plant Research (Michael Heinrich) * Introduction: Patients' Dilemmas in 2005 * Medicinal Plants and Their Modern and Historical Uses * New Methodological Developments * Medical Applications: Pharmacology and Clinical Use * Future Needs: Phytotherapy and the Concept of Ethnopharmacy * Conclusion * Index * Reference Notes Included

Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants

Abstract: Medicinal plants are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals or bionutrients. Studies carried out during the past 2–3 decades have shown that these phytochemicals have an important role in preventing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The major classes of phytochemicals with disease-preventing functions are dietary fibre, antioxidants, anticancer, detoxifying agents, immunity-potentiating agents and neuropharmacological agents. Each class of these functional agents consists of a wide range of chemicals with differing potency. Some of these phytochemicals have more than one function. There is, however, much scope for further systematic research in screening Indian medicinal plants for these phytochemicals and assessing their potential in protecting against different types of diseases.