V. K. Singh - Ethnomedicine and Pharmacognosy

Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants

Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants

Volume 1

Ethnomedicine and
Pharmacognosy

V. K. SINGH

Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine
61-65, Institutional Area, Janakpuri, New Delhi
Presently: National Medicinal Plants Board
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Govt, of India)
36A, Chandralok Building, Janpath, New Delhi

J. N. GOVIL

Division of Genetics
Indian Agricultural Research Institute
New Delhi

GURDIP SINGH

Department of Chemistry
Gorakhpur University
Gorakhpur (U.P.)

SCI TECH PUBLISHING LLC, U.S.A.

Series Editors : J.N. Govil and V.K. Singh

Copyright 2002

Authors & Publishers

This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.

All rights are reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, 1956, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any meanselectronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout the prior permission of the copyright owner.

ISBN: 0-9656038-6-5

SERIES ISBN : 0-9656038-5-7

Published by:
SCI TECH PUBLISHING LLC
P.O. Box-720656, Houston, Texas-77072, USA
Tel.: 713-541-9400; Fax: 713-541-9401
E-mail:

For Distribution in India and other SARC Countries

Please Contact:

Researchco Book Center

25-B/2, New Rohtak Road, (Near Liberty Cinema)
New Delhi-110005 (India) Ph.: 5781565,5781566
Printed atMehta Offset Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, INDIA.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Medicinal plants are value added for the content and chemical composition of their active components. Therefore, the demand on plantbased therapeutics has increased many fold in both developing and developed countries due to the growing recognition that they are natural products, being non-narcotic, having no side-effects easily available at affordable prices. In a wider context,There is a growing demand for plantbased medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. International market of medicinal plant is over US $ 60 billion per year, which is growing at the rate of 7%.

Progress in medicinal plants research has undergone a phenomenal growth during last two decades. Worldwide trend towards the utilisation oi natural plant remedies has created an enormous need for information about the properties and uses of the medicinal plants. Based on this rationale, the present series "Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants" comprising of eight volumes was conceived and provides the edited information from over 200 original and review papers by eminent scientists and researchers from India and abroad on a wide range of topics in the areas of Ethnomedicine, Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Aesthetics, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Crop Improvement, Production Technology, Trade and Commerce, Diseases and their Management etc.

It is hoped these volumes will open new vistas of knowledge and further lead to research in new drugs of natural origin and serve as good source of material for further work.

J. N. GOVIL AND V. K. SINGH

Cover Photographs

1. Phyllanthus emblica L.(Left Top Photograph)

2. Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.(Right Top Photograph)

3. Papaver somniferum L.(Left Bottom Photograph)

4. Cassia fistula L.(Right Bottom Photograph)

5. Pharmacognosy of the leaf petiole of China Rose HibiSCUS rosa-sinensis (Bottom Center Photograph)

FOREWORD TO THE SERIES

India is known for its wealth of medicinal plants which are found in its diverse climatic and physiographic conditions. This has enriched us with an estimated 45,000 plant taxa of which 2000 are referred to frequently in the literature. Indian Systems of Medicine commonly use about 500 species. Large scale use of medicinal plants and herbs in the preparation of drugs is increasing both in the developed and developing countries due to growing concern about the side-effects of chemicals and synthetic substances. The medicinal plant based drugs have the added advantage of being simple, effective, and offering a broad spectrum of activity with an emphasis on the preventive action of drugs..Because of these factors, the demand for plant-based medicines (Phytomedicines or Phytopharmaceuticals) is increasing worldwide. Plants are also found to contain disease specific curative properties and extracts of such plants are increasingly being used to manufacture effective drugs.

The early part of the 20th century saw an evolution of the pharmaceutical industry. With the development in chemical techniques, crude drugs came to be replaced by pure chemical drugs and the developed countries witnessed a decline in popularity of medicinal plant based drugs. However, during the recent past, the pendulum has swung back again and there is a resurgence of interest in study and use of medicinal plants. Many traditional plant based remedies are back in use and find increasing applications as (i) source of direct therapeutic agents; (ii) as raw material base for the elaboration of more complex semi-synthetic chemical compounds; (iii) as models for new synthetic compounds, and; (iv) as taxonomic markers for the discovery of new compounds. The production, consumption and international trade in medicinal plants, and phytomedicines, therefore, are growing and expected to grow in future quite significantly.

The current worldwide trend towards the utilization of natural plant remedies has created an enormous need for information about the properties and uses of these plants. Progress in medicinal plants research has undergone a phenomenal, growth during last two decades.

The present series "Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants" is a compendium of original articles and review papers comprising of eight volumes in the areas of: Ethnomedicine & Pharmacognosy; Phytochemistry and Pharmacology; Aesthetics; Biotechnology and Genetic engineering; Crop Improvement, Production Technology, Trade and Commerce; Diseases and their management; Ethnomedicine & Pharmacogonosy (part-II); Phytochemistry and Pharmacology: some bio-actives of plant origin (part-II). These volumes contain materials edited from over 200 research contributions from India and abroad providing first-hand information on a wide range of topics related to medicinal plants.

The volumes are designed for a wide audience belonging to the discipline of Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Crop Improvement, Agriculture and Aesthetics. The work is equally important for teachers, researchers and Postgraduate students of Ayurveda, Unani and Medical Sciences. It is hoped these volumes will open new vistas of knowledge and further lead to research in new drugs of plant origin and serve as a good source of material for future work.