Plant kingdom represents a vast emporium of untapped medicinal potential and play a vital role for the development of new drugs. The medicinal value of drug plants is due to the presence of some chemical compounds in the plant tissue that produce a definite physiological action on human body. Early societies learned through trial and error that many plants contained substances with significant curative properties and over the years the natural products became used in more refined ways leading ultimately to the use of pure single component "active ingredient" as drugs. However, the demands of...

In almost all the countries, traditional and folk herbal medicines have been extensively used since times immemorial for healthcare. Ancient religious texts are replete with references on the use of herbs with medicinal properties. Because of the local beliefs and practices and also from cost considerations herbal medicines remain a popular mode of treatment in the developing countries. In the industrialized society also, the rising cost of prescription drugs and ensuing side effects of the treatment makes it highly attractive to use the traditional medicine. Considerable scientific data have...

Natural products, particularly, microbial and plant products in their native form have been associated with mankind since ancient times. Natural products offer a vast, virtually untapped reservoir of chemical compounds with many potential uses. Apart from drugs, they can also be used as lead compounds, dietary supplements and personal care items. The present volume of the book series entitled, "Natural Products: Research Reviews" is a critical review book which stimulates progress in all areas of natural products research.The book gives an excellent overview of the current trends in natural...