Main description:

Traditional systems of medicine are fast emerging as viable alternatives to modern medical science. Further, in recent years the emphasis on botanicals as source for drug discovery and development has been realized globally. Added to this, the safer profile of herbal drugs combined with their low costs make them ideal targets for newer drugs. As in the modern system of medicine, viz. allopathy, herbal drugs form an inseparable part of the management of various disorders. The concept of scientific validation of the basis of traditional uses of herbal medicines has given birth to a new concept of reverse pharmacology, and interactions between traditional and modern systems of medicine are being increasingly encouraged. Recent Advances in Herbal Drug Research and Therapy showcases some of these crucial and emerging issues relating to herbal drugs. This compilation is a judicious combination of research and conventional aspects on the subject of herbal drugs, their pharmacology and therapeutic applications. Some very relevant general and systemic pharmacological as well as toxicological aspects have been highlighted by some of the leading experts in this field. The book will be of interest to students, scientists, teachers and other health professionals in the area of pharmacology, toxicology and allied health sciences.

Spread in 26 chapters the book broadly focuses on:

Standardization and quality control of herbal drugs
Regulatory issues like ethics and pharmacovigilance with herbals
Clinical research with herbal drugs
Herbogenomics
Herb-drug interactions
Potential therapeutics uses of herbal drugs focusing on various systemic disorders of cardiorespiratory, endocrinal, neuropsychiatric gastrointestinal systems and cancer
Herbal drugs and environmental toxicology

Contents:

1. Quality Control and Standardisation of Single and Poly Herbal Drugs: Challenges and Opportunities; 2. Ethical Guidelines for Herbal Drugs in India; 3. Meandering Safety of Natural Health Products; 4. Herbal Drug Research and Therapy - Industry Experience; 5. Pharmacovigilance of Herbal Remedies. 6. Evidence Based Medicine - A Clinical Experience on Ayurveda Medicine; 7. Herb-drug Interactions: A Matter of Great Concern; 8. Herbogenomics: A New Discipline of Herbal Drug Therapy; 9. Biology of Cardiovascular Disease and Herbal Medicines; 10. Ocimum sanctum: Its Role in Cardioprotection in Psychological Stress; 11. Resurgence of Herbals for the Treatment of Hypertension; 12. Advancements in the New Anti-thrombotic Drug Development; 13. Indigenous Knowledge of Medicinal Plant to New Approach for Drug Development: Revisited; 14. Role of Ayurveda in Respiratory Disorders; 15. Cough: Pharmacological Approaches to a Physiological Response; 16. Newer Insights into the Mechanisms of Action of some Herbal Adaptogens; 17. From Ginkgo biloba to a Neuro-Protective and Psycho-active Drug Lead NV-31; 18. Liver Disorders and Herbal Drug Development; 19. Evaluating the Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products as New Drugs for Peptic Ulcer Disease; 20. From Concept to Reality in Herbal Medicine: Zingiber officinale as Potential Antidiabetic Herbal Drug with Specific 5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptors as the Target; 21. Exploring Plant Materials for Anti-inflammatory and Anti-Leukemic Potential; 22. Studies on Anti-Tumor Potential of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Polyphenols; 23. Modulation of Radiation Inflicted Tissue Injuries in Swiss Albino Mice by a Semipurified Fraction Prepared from High Altitude Plant Podophyllum Hexandrum; 24. Terpenes: Penetration Enhancers for Transdermal Drug Delivery; 25. Arsenic Toxicity: Biochemical Effects, Mechanism of Action and Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment by Chelating Agents and Herbal Extracts; 26. Potential Therapeutic Entities from Plants for Various Ocular Disorders; Index.