Medicinal plants of the world

A scientifically accurate guide to 350 of the best-known and most important medicinal plants, illustrated by more than 800 colour photographs;The text covers each plant’s botany, origin, main historical and modern uses, active ingredients and pharmacological effects, the most recent regulatory status of each plant, as well as an indication of its efficacy in clinical trials;Includes an overview of the various active ingredients (secondary metabolites) that explains how medicinal plants work as well as a section on the various health conditions that are treated with medicinal plants;A checklist of over 900 medicinal plants gives the correct scientific name, common names, family, origin, main compounds, main actions and uses of each plant;Rights to the first edition were obtained by the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia with translations into German, Korean and Polish

Medicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals.Medicinal plants and plant-derived medicine are widely used in traditional cultures all over the world and they are becoming increasingly popular in modern society as natural alternatives to synthetic chemicals. As more and more natural remedies are being commercialised, there is a need for a user-friendly reference guide to the plants and their products. The book gives the reader a bird’s eye view of more than 350 of the bestknown medicinal plants of the world and their uses, in a compact, colourful and scientifically accurate reference text. It provides quick answers to the most obvious questions: Where does this plant originate? What does it look like? In which culture is it traditionally used? What is it used for? Which chemical compounds does it contain? How safe is it? What is known about its pharmacological activity? What evidence is there that it is effective? The authors also provide short overviews of the various health conditions for which medicinal plants are used and the active compounds (secondary metabolites) found in the plants and their modes of actions.