Preface

Herbal Medicine: Back to the Future presents expert reviews on the applications of herbal medicines (including Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicines and alternative therapies). This volume demonstrates the use of sophisticated methods to explore traditional medicine, while providing readers a glimpse into the future of herbal medicine.

The book is a valuable resource for pharmaceutical scientists and postgraduate students seeking updated and critically important information relating to natural product chemistry and pharmacology. The chapters are written by authorities in the field. Chapter 1 reviews the antimicrobial spectrum of allicin (garlic) and carvacrol (oregano) and documents the methods that have currently been used to stabilize or generate the semi-synthetic forms of these compounds. Chapter 2 summarizes the application of polyphenol against infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses as pathogens. Chapter 3 describes the experiences of Russians in treating infectious diseases with botanicals—from their earliest recorded history down to the present. Chapter 4 discusses the phytochemical constituents of Azadirachta indica (“neem”) with respect to their antimicrobial activity along with possible underlying mechanisms and pathways. Chapter 5 focuses on the role of the novel carriers in the development and revival of herbal medicine.

We hope that the readers involved in the study of infectious diseases will find these reviews valuable and thought provoking so that they may trigger further research on herbal medicines and alternative therapies.

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