Natural Drugs: Herbal Medicines and Pharmacognosy
Contents: Preface. I. Introduction to Herbal Medicines. 1. History and Scope of Herbal Medicines. 2. Definition of Medical Terms Related to Herbal Technology. 3. Role of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Systems of Medicine: The Enduring Wisdom of Nature’s Pharmacy. 4. Cultivation of Medicinal Plants: Nurturing Nature’s Pharmacy. 5. Harvesting and Processing of Medicinal Plants: Maximizing Therapeutic Potential. 6. Storage, Marketing, and Utilization of Medicinal Plants: Ensuring Quality and Accessibility. II. Introduction to Pharmacognosy. 7. Definition and Scope. 8. Drug Definitions, Forms, and Quality. 9. Drug Collection, Processing, and Evaluation. 10. A Historical Journey through Pharmacognosy. 11. Systematic Position and Medicinal Uses of the following herbs. III. Phytochemistry. 12. Introduction. 13. Phytochemicals. 14. Techniques. 15. Steps Involved in Plant Collection. 16. Methods of Extraction. 17. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals. 18. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. 19. Methods of Detection. 20. Identification and Utilization of Medicinal Herbs. IV. Analytical Pharmacognosy. 21. Introduction. 22. Procedure of Analysis of Plant Samples. 23. Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis. 24. Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals Practicals. 25. Preparation of Herbarium of the Medicinal Plants. 26. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening Tests for Secondary Metabolites (alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds). Glossary. Photos. Index.
This comprehensive book offers an in-depth exploration of herbal medicines and pharmacognosy, serving as a vital resource for students, researchers, and practitioners in pharmaceutical sciences, botany, and alternative medicine. Designed with clarity and academic rigor, the book bridges traditional healing knowledge with modern scientific principles.
Beginning with the Introduction to Herbal Medicines, it traces the historical roots, cultural relevance, and global acceptance of plant-based therapies. The Introduction to Pharmacognosy delves into the origin, classification, and significance of natural drugs, emphasizing the role of medicinal plants in healthcare systems.
The Phytochemistry section provides detailed insights into the chemistry of plant-derived compounds, their biosynthesis, classification, and therapeutic importance. Special attention is given to major phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and essential oils.
The final section, Analytical Pharmacognosy, equips readers with modern tools and techniques for the identification, standardization, and quality control of herbal drugs. Techniques such as chromatography and spectroscopy are discussed with practical applications.
