Biopharmacological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds

This book presents comprehensive coverage and recent advances surrounding phytopharmaceuticals, traditional and alternative systems of medicines and uses of nanotechnology in biopharmaceutical products. Sections cover the role of medicinal plants, bioactive and biophytopharmaceuticals in the management of cancer, hepatitis, HIV, analgesics, inflammation, antibacterial, viral infections, fungal infections, neurological disorders, diabetes, ENT infections, dental decay, cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, antiproliferative etc. This volume also includes biogenic synthesis of various type of nanoparticles using medical plant extracts, seaweeds, algae, and fungi for the new drug discovery. This volume sheds new light on the immense potential of medicinal plants for human health from different technological aspects. It presents new research on bioactive compounds in medicinal plants that provide health benefits, including those that have proven especially effective in treating and managing diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It looks at the medicinal properties, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of plants and provides scientific evidence on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of certain diseases. Many of the plants described in the chapters are easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects in comparison to modern drugs in the treatment of different diseases. The body of the book comprises thought-provoking and diverse chapters on the potential for utilisation of plants in treating diseases of the skin and use of traditional medicine as anticancer, anti-HIV, and antibacterial agents. Each topic is introduced by providing a background on the disease, which contains updated statistics on the prevalence thereof, followed by the associated pathology, pharmacologically approved drugs currently on the market used for treatment of the disease, an array of medicinal plants used for treatment accompanied with a list of their active phytoconstituents and chemical structures thereof, as well as scientific evidence for use. This book provides key information for everyone interested in drug discovery, including medicinal chemists, nutritionists, microbiologists, biochemists, toxicologists, drug developers and health care professionals. Students, professors and researchers working in the area of pharmaceutical sciences, botany, pharmaceutical microbiology, medical microbiology and beyond will also find the book useful.