This book provides insights into various aspects of medicinal plant-associated microbes, known to be a unique source of biological active compounds, including their biotechnological uses and their potential in pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. Featuring review papers and original research by leading experts in the field, it discusses medicinal plants and their interactions with the environment; medicinal plants as a source of biologically active compounds; medicinal plant-associated microbes (diversity and metabolites); their pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications as well as their potential applications as plant growth stimulators and biocontrol agents.

As such the book offers a valuable, up-to-date overview of the current research on medicinal plants, their ecology, biochemistry and associated biomes.

Autorentext

Dilfuza Egamberdieva graduated in Biology from the National University of Uzbekistan in 1993 and received her PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, in 2000. She conducted her postdoctoral studies at the Helsinki University of Finland, University of Florence, Italy; Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; Leiden University in the Netherlands and Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Germany. She established the research laboratory Plant microbe interactions at the National University of Uzbekistan. She has received numerous fellowship and awards for her academic achievements, including UNESCO-L'OREAL Fellowship for Women in Science; UNESCO-MAB Award and Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship. In 2012 she was awarded the TWAS Prize in Agricultural Sciences for her innovative contributions to the study of plant-microbe interactions in stressed environments. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, 40 chapters including in 4 books published by Springer.

Antonio Tiezzi graduated in Biology from the University of Siena, Italy, in 1979. He then worked at Siena University and was a visiting scholar at the Biozentrum, Basel, Switzerland, under an EMBO fellowship. In 1982 gained experience in the vaccine industry at Sclavo (now GSK) in Siena, and in 1983 he undertook research at the Einstein College of Medicine, NY, USA. In 1985 he worked at the Dept. of Environmental Sciences of Siena University and since 1992 he has been a Professor of Plant Cytology at Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy. His main research areas include plant cytoskeleton he discovered the motor protein kinesin in plants and became a board member of the European Cytoskeleton Forum; and bioactive plant substances. He has published 95 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 25 book chapters; has edited 3 books, including 1 book published by Springer; has participated in numerous international meetings and has coordinated national and international educational/research networks and projects.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Ethno-botanical aspects of some traditional medicinal plants.- Chapter 2. Medicinal plant - environment interaction and mitigation to abiotic stress.- Chapter 3. Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of medical plants.- Chapter 4. Biologically active components of the Western Ghats medicinal fern Diplazium esculentum.- Chapter 5. Medicinal plants as a source of alkaloids.- Chapter 6. Nutraceutical and bioactive significance of ferns with emphasis on the medicinal fern Diplazium.- Chapter 7. Studies on the production of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants by plant tissue cultures.- Chapter 8. Endophytic bacteria associated with medicinal plants: the treasure trove of antimicrobial compounds.- Chapter 9. The importance of endophytic fungi from the medicinal plant: Diversity, natural bioactive compounds, and control of plant pathogens.- Chapter 10. Medicinal plant associated microbes as a source of protection and production of crops.- Chapter 11. Endophytic microbial diversity in the halophytic medicinal plant Ferula, and their bioapplicable traits.- Chapter 12. Endophytic bacteria mediated regulation of Secondary metabolites for the growth induction in Hyptis suaveolens under stress.- Chapter 13. Bioactive potentials of novel molecules from the endophytes of medicinal plants.