Editor: Saheed Sabiu

Therapeutic Use of Plant Secondary Metabolites

eBook: US $89 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $153
Printed Copy: US $108
Library License: US $356
ISBN: 978-981-5050-63-9 (Print)
ISBN: 978-981-5050-62-2 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2022
DOI: 10.2174/97898150506221220101

Introduction

The book is an evidence-based reference about biochemical mechanisms of action of plant secondary metabolites. It conveys an understanding about how plant-based therapies work, and explains their role in the treatment of complementary and alternative medicine for in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, microbial infections, etc., The 15 chapters are written by eminent scholars, lecturers, and experts in indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), industrial and medicinal plants, phytotherapeutics, and phytoinformatics. Reports on health benefits of specific phytochemicals are also highlighted. In addition to basic concepts in medicinal chemistry and ethnopharmacology, the book covers the role of modern computer techniques in developing new pharmaceuticals from plat sources.

Therapeutic Uses of Plant Secondary Metabolites is timely and valuable reference for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in medicinal chemistry, as well as researchers and professionals in IKS, phytomedicine, ethnopharmacology, phytopharmacology, plant biotechnology, drug discovery and development, and phytotherapeutics.

Audience: Researchers in the field of IKS, phytomedicine, ethnopharmacology, phytopharmacology, plant biotechnology, drug discovery and development, and phytotherapeutics; students of medicinal chemistry programs.

Preface

The concept of phytotherapy is as old as mankind. During the last decades, it has become evident that there exist several plants with therapeutic potential, and it is increasingly being accepted that phytotherapy could offer potential lead compounds in the drug discovery/development process. The interest in phytotherapy could be associated with secondary metabolites that could act individually, additively, or in synergy to improve health and wellbeing. Indeed, medicinal plants, unlike conventional drugs, commonly have bioactive constituents working together catalytically and synergistically to produce a combined effect that may surpass the total activity of the individual constituents. The combined actions of these metabolites tend to increase the activity of the main constituent by speeding up or slowing down its metabolism in the body. Also, the secondary metabolites might minimize the rate of undesired adverse effects, and have an additive, potentiating, or antagonistic effect.

The book offers evidence-based mechanistic views on complementary and alternative medicine with a focus on biological mechanisms of action of plant secondary metabolites in degenerative and microbial diseases such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, antimicrobial resistance, etc., while reporting health benefits. The chapters are written by enviable scholars, lecturers, and experts in indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), industrial and medicinal plants, phytotherapeutics, and phytoinformatics. Therapeutic Uses of Plant Secondary Metabolites is timely and highly valuable for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers and professionals in IKS, phytomedicine, ethnopharmacology, phytopharmacology, plant biotechnology, drug discovery and development, and phytotherapeutics.

Saheed Sabiu
Department of Biotechnology and Food Science
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Durban University of Technology
Durban 4000
South Africa