Natural Products and Their Utilization Pattern

This book presents recent advancements in the field of natural products research. Secondary metabolites such as phenolics, alkaloids, saponins, lipids, carbohydrates and terpenes synthesised by the plants are commercially important leading to the opportunities in the field of drug development in various herbal industries. The book includes 22 chapters with 11 research and 11 review articles, highlighting different dimensions of commercially useful plant-based medicines, neutraceuticals, cosmaceuticals, flavor compounds, their ethnobotany and utilisation pattern. Some chapters cover nutritive, pharmacological and economical importance of various plant species such as Momordica charantia, Chenopodium album, Curcuma caesia, Rubus ellipticus, Ocimum sanctum, Diploknema butyracea, Meizotropis pellita, Artemisia, Malus domestica, Angelica glauca, Nardostachys jatamansi, Picrorhiza kurroa, Rheum austral, Swertia chirata and Himalayan lichens. The phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of some wild edible plants and the indirect organogenesis of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. for pharmaceuticals and cosmacuticals were also exemplified. Potential of endophytic fungi as a producer of biologically active natural product has been presented as a review article. Other chapters consider the usefulness of natural products for livelihood generation and societal development of the local hill communities. Book also includes phytoremedial aspect of Vinga radiate. nano based medicines in cancer therapy and novel drug delivery applications. This book is extremely useful resource for natural product chemists, biochemists, botanists, biotechnologists, microbiologists, environmentalists, pharmacologists, researchers post graduate students, academicians and industry persons.