Handbook on Medicinal Plants
Zohara Yaniv, Uriel Bachrach
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