Preface

Herbal Medicine: Back to the Future presents expert reviews on the applications of herbal medicines (including Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicines and alternative therapies) to tackle health problems. This volume provides readers about the wealth of information on the use of herbal medicines in cardiovascular disorders that has been used by mankind since time immemorial and that has then been gradually integrated into the indigenous systems of medicine practiced in different regions of the world,

The book is a valuable resource for pharmaceutical scientists and postgraduate students seeking updated and critically important information in natural product chemistry and pharmacology. The chapters are written by authorities in the field. The contents of the Volume 1 represent exciting recent researches on cardiovascular benefits of the European olive and bottle gourd, cardiovascular benefits of Naoxintong, herbal and micronutrient supplements for cardiovascular disease patients, herbal remedies for atherosclerosis, and cardio-protective alkaloids. We hope that the readers involved in cardiovascular care will find these reviews valuable and thought provoking so that they may trigger further research on herbal medicines and alternative therapies against cardiovascular diseases.

We are grateful for the timely efforts made by the editorial personnel, especially Mr. Mahmood Alam (Director Publications) and Mr. Shehzad Naqvi (Senior Manager Publications), at Bentham Science Publishers for the publication of this book.

Ferid Murad, (Nobel Laureate)
Palo Alto Veterans Hospital,
California,
USA

Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS
Kings College, University of Cambridge,
Cambridge,
UK

Ka Bian
George Washington University, School of Medicine,
Washington,
USA