Preface

The book “Phytotherapy in the Management of Diabetes and Hypertension, Volume 1”, co-edited by Prof Mohamed EDDOUKS & Prof Deprasad CHATTOPADHYAY and published by Bentham Science Publishers (2013) has been considered as a good addition in the existing knowledge of hyperglycemia and diabetes as well as their management. The volume 1 of this book series has emphasized the basic Biochemistry for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and described every aspect of these lifestyle diseases and its control or remediation through a cost effective, safe, easygoing, easy-adaptable method through the age-old practice validated by scientific research. The volume 1 has been successfully indexed in Scopus database. In response to requests from WHO in providing safe and effective herbal medicines for use in national health-care systems and to prepare monographs of used medicinal plants around the world, the present volume 2 of this ebook series contain monographs related to antihypertensive and antidiabetic plants. Each monograph of antihypertensive and antidiabetic plants contains actualized scientific information about the pharmacopoeial data for quality assurance: botanical features, distribution, identity tests, purity requirements, chemical assays, active or major chemical constituents, clinical applications, pharmacology, contraindications, warnings, precautions, potential adverse reactions, and posology dealing with various aspects of diabetes and hypertension. Especially, the mechanisms of action involved in the antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects, the active phytochemicals and the clinical trials performed for these medicinal plants are deeply discussed. As the phytotherapy can give long term benefit with less or no side effect, hence this e-Book series can be treated as authenticated alternative or complementary therapeutic compendium to the physicians and patients. This volume includes 11 chapters showing at the first section the background related to the pathophysiology as well as treatment of diabetes and hypertension, while the second section shows the role of phytotherapy in the management of diabetes and hypertension. Especially, monographs on some important antidiabetic and antihypertensive plants are presented. This book series will be useful to the students, teachers, researchers, naturopathist, scientists, clinicians and even the common people interested to know about the subject. I would like to express my great appreciation to the contributors, Dr D. Chattopadhyay for his contribution to the first volume of this book series, Prof V. De Feo for supporting the publication of this volume, Prof W. Cho for his nice foreword and Bentham Science Publishers for giving me the opportunity to publish this book series in my favourite field of interest.