This reference work covers for the first time the herbal drugs used in ethnomedicine and validated on modern scientific basis. In depth information prepared by experts traces the evolution of herbal drugs with civilization and their use as antioxidants, anticancerous, chemopreventors, memory enhancers, neuroprotective, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, and in stroke, cardiovascular disorders, erectile dysfunction; also covering safety issues and toxic effects. Many of our modern medicine have come from traditional use of plants such as Curcuma, Ginkgo, and Ginseng. Therefore, information on herbal drugs, from ethnomedicine to modern use, has been arranged based on their involvement in various ailments. This book offers researchers working on diverse aspects of medicinal plants a complete coverage of botany, ethnology, pharmacology, toxicology and medicinal properties of medicinal plants. It provides essential source material to all working in the fields of agriculture, botany, pharmacy, traditional systems of medicine and drug industry.

R. Vertpoorte: Medicinal Plants: a Renewable Resource for Novel Leads and Drugs.-- K.G. Ramawat, S. Dass, M. Mathur: Chemical Diversity of Bioactive Molecules and Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants

- S.S. Katewa: Indigenous People and Forests: Perspectives of an Ethnobotanical Study from Rajasthan (India).-- L.L. Murphy, J.S. Ferrao: Ginseng and Male Sexual Behaviour.-- J. Shah: Herbal Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction.-- G.P. McGregor: Harpagophytum procumbens - Traditional Anti-inflammatory Herbal Drug with Broad Therapeutic Potential.-- G. Sethi, B. Sung, B.B. Aggarwal: Role of Curcumin in Modern Medicine.-- M. Jorg, S. Reinhard: Proprietary Herbal Medicines in Circulatory Disorders: Hawthorn, Ginkgo, Padma 28.-- L. Beltz: The Effect of the Green Tea Polyphenol EGCG on the Central Nervous, Endocrine, and Innate Immune System.-- K.G. Ramawat, S. Goyal: Natural Products in Cancer Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy.-- T. Efferth: Artemisinin - a Versatile Weapon from Traditional Chinese Medicine.-- A. Mittal, R.P Singh: Anticancer and Immunomodulatory Properties of Tinospora.-- G. Benoni, L. Cuzzolin: Safety and Efficacy of Phytomedicines in Cancer.-- M. Bhatnagar: Novel Leads from Herbal Drugs for Neurodegenerative Diseases.-- M.-J.R. Howes, P.J. Houghton: Traditional Medicine for Memory Enhancement.-- H. Kim: Neuroprotective Herbs for Stroke.-- J. Lehotski, P. Kaplan, M. Pavlikova, P. Urban, B. Saniova: Biological Activity of Ginkgo.-- G. Juan, L. Gongshe, C. Shuangyan, A.A Aly: Vitamin E Metabolic Modulation in Plants.-- J. Beyer, O.H. Drummer, H.C.H.H. Maurer: Herbal Drugs of Abuse.-- K. Duszka, B.F.C. Clark, F. Massino, J. Barciszewski: Biological Activities of Kinetin.-- L. Cuzzolin, G. Benoni: Safety Issues of Phytomedicines in Pregnancy and Paediatrics