This reference work builds upon the solid foundation laid by the first edition on natural products, and updates readers with the latest advances in medicinal plants and phytochemicals. It encompasses information about well-established phytochemicals, biology, and biotechnology of medicinal plants or their products, their biosynthesis, novel production strategies, demand and uses, metabolism, and bioavailability.

The handbook describes phytochemicals, which, by the strictest definition, are chemicals that are produced by plants. During the last decades, more and more groups became actively involved in exploring plants for useful metabolites that lead to the identification of several useful curative agents and many promising molecules to fight and/or prevent diseases. But when we talk about phytochemicals, there are also medicinal plants where not a single molecule is responsible for the observed properties. This reference work, therefore, reviews and compiles information on both these aspects.

This second edition introduces general biology aspects of natural products and covers new botanical substances and emergent metabolomics methodologies for the analysis of natural products. It also offers insights into Computational Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies on natural compounds, which are fundamental to drug design and herbal formulation. Additionally, this edition explores diverse yet interconnected topics like the intricate interplay of lipopeptides and their bioactive fatty acids, along with the potential of phytotherapy and endobiogeny in health and well-being.

This reference work is an authoritative and valuable account to researchers and teachers, as well as professionals, who wish to keep pace with the rapidly developing field of natural products. Readers can now consult this newly compiled handbook to find all information about bioactive molecules and medicinal plants in one place!

First reference work comprising all information about natural products in one place Combines chemical as well as biological based information Builds on success of earlier edition, with new content on emerging topics

Autorentext
Kishan Gopal Ramawat is a former Professor and Head of the Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, India, with longstanding research experience. He received his Ph. D. in Plant Biotechnology in 1978 from the University of Jodhpur, India, and afterward joined the university as a faculty member. In 1991 he moved to the M.L. Sukhadia University in Udaipur as an Associate Professor and became a Professor in 2001. He served as the Head of the Department of Botany (20012004, 20102012); was in charge of the Department of Biotechnology (20032004); was a member of the task force on medicinal and aromatic plants of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, New Delhi (20022005); and coordinated UGC-DRS and DST-FIST programs (20022012). Prof. Ramawat had done his postdoctoral studies at the University of Tours, France, from 1983 to 1985, and later returned to Tours as visiting professor (1991). He also visited the University of Bordeaux 2, France, several times as visiting professor (1995, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2010) and Poland in 2005 during an academic exchange program (2005). Through these visits in France, Prof. Ramawat and Prof. Mérillon established a strong connection, which has resulted in productive collaborations and several book and reference work publications. Prof. Ramawat has published 170+ peer-reviewed articles and edited several books and reference works on topics such as the biotechnology of medicinal plants, secondary metabolites, bioactive molecules, herbal drugs, and many other topics. In his research group, Prof. Ramawat has supervised doctoral thesis of 25 students. He is an active member of several academic bodies, associations, and editorial boards of journals. Professor Dr. Jean-Michel Mérillon received his M.Pharma. (1979) and Ph.D. (1984) from the University of Tours, France. He joined the University of Tours as assistant professor in 1981, and became associate professor in 1987. In 1993 he moved to the faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Bordeaux (France), accepting a position as full professor. He has been the director f the research group on biologically active plant substances for over 15 years, at the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (University of Bordeaux, France), which comprises 25 scientists and research students. The group has been working on phenolic compounds from vine and wine for many years, mainly complex stilbenes and their involvement in health. He is involved in developing teaching on plant biology, natural bioactive compounds, and biotechnology. Prof. Mérillon has published more than 190 research papers in internationally recognized journals, and has co-edited books and reference works on secondary metabolites and biotechnology (h-index = 61). IN 2004, he founded the technology transfer unit Polyphenols Biotech, providing support for R&D programs for SMEs and major groups from the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and health-nutrition sectors. He is currently the manager of this unit.

Klappentext

Inhalt

Part I. General Biology of Natural Products.- Part II. Alkaloids: Biology and Biotechnology.- Part III. Alkaloids: Phytochemistry.- Part IV. Alkaloids: Pharmacology.- Part V. Alkaloids: Methods of Analysis.- Part VI. Phenolics: Biology and Biotechnology.- Part VII. Phenolics: Phytochemistry.- Part VIII. Phenolics: Pharmacology.- Part IX. Phenolics: Methods of Analysis.- Part X. Terpenes: Biology and Biotechnology.- Part XI. Terpenes: Phytochemistry.- Part XII. Terpenes: Pharmacology.- Part XIII. Terpenes: Methods of Analysis.