Garima Bhardwaj – författare

This book, as part of the “Natural Products Chemistry of Global Plants” series, describes in detail the health-promoting wild edible and medicinal mushrooms specific to the Himalayas region. The focus of the book is to draw on the rich culture, folklore, and environment of the Upper Himalayas, which represents a scientifically significant region. The Himalayas has rich plant resources and a large diversity of plants and mushrooms, which can provide important health benefits as detailed throughout the text. Drawing attention to these mushrooms with detailed scientific descriptions may help in the awareness and in developing sustainable growth of these important resources.

Features

This book, as part of the “Natural Products Chemistry of Global Plants” series, describes in detail the health-promoting wild edible and medicinal mushrooms specific to the Himalayas region. The focus of the book is to draw on the rich culture, folklore, and environment of the Upper Himalayas, which represents a scientifically significant region. The Himalayas has rich plant resources and a large diversity of plants and mushrooms, which can provide important health benefits as detailed throughout the text. Drawing attention to these mushrooms with detailed scientific descriptions may help in the awareness and in developing sustainable growth of these important resources.

Features

Understand the properties and applications of one of the world’s most ubiquitous flora

Lichen is a single entity comprising two or more organisms—most typically algae and fungus—in a symbiotic relationship. It is one of the planet’s most abundant categories of flora, with over 25,000 known species across all regions of the globe. Lichens’ status as a rich source of bioactive metabolites and phytochemicals, as well as their potential as bio-indicators, has given them an increasingly prominent role in modern research into medicine, cosmetics, food, and more.

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen provides a comprehensive overview of these bountiful flora and their properties. It provides not only in-depth analysis of lichen physiology and ecology, but also a thorough survey of their modern and growing applications. It provides all the tools readers need to domesticate lichen and bring their properties to bear on some of humanity’s most intractable scientific problems.

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen readers will also find:

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen is ideal for scientists and researchers in ethnobotany, pharmacology, chemistry, and biology, as well as teachers and students with an interest in biologically important lichens.

It is gratifying to see the enthusiasm of Indian mycologists for lichens grow over the last 25 years, especially in their possible exploitation. That this book has a staggering 63 contributors, of which all but seven are from India or Pakistan, is a testament to that enthusiasm. Following a series of nine chapters on general aspects of lichen biology, conservation and ecology, are ten on different aspects of actual or prospected applications. These cover traditional uses, therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties, antimicrobial activities, anticancer drugs, food value, perfumery and cosmetics, bioindication, and nanoparticles. One contribution compiles ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of four particular genera (Cetraria, Cladonia, Parmelia s.lat., and Usnea). The compilations of pertinent very scattered publications and reports will be of value for anyone wishing to explore particular activities further, especially as starting points for fresh research. However, it has to be recognized that many of the studies commented on, especially in relation to potential medical applications, are based on individual rather small-scale studies (and not always on precisely identified material). Further, in many chapters, published reports are carefully compiled but generally accepted without indications of their limitations. I was concerned to see that in the chapter on taxonomy, lichens were not presented from the standpoint of the phylogenetic placements of the fungal partners (to which the “lichen” name applies). Instead, it is Zahlbruckner’s system that is used, treating them as a separate group divided into Ascolichens, Basidiolichens, and categories such as Gymnocarpeae. In justification they say this “has been widely adopted by all British lichenologists” and give a reference to a 1959 publication! It is sad to see such obsolete treatments being perpetuated, as in addition to misleading readers it may inhibit them from looking into what is known of the activities and properties of related non-lichen fungi and their products. There are also inconsistencies in the scientific names used, and erratic use of author citations (which in any case have no place in nontaxonomic works). It is unfortunate that a work on a subject of such potentially wide interest was evidently not as critically reviewed and edited to the standard I would have expected from such a prestigious and respected publisher.David L. Hawksworth, 2024 Mycological book news, Fungal Biology Reviews, Volume 50, 2024, 100399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2024.100399

Understand the properties and applications of one of the world’s most ubiquitous flora

Lichen is a single entity comprising two or more organisms—most typically algae and fungus—in a symbiotic relationship. It is one of the planet’s most abundant categories of flora, with over 25,000 known species across all regions of the globe. Lichens’ status as a rich source of bioactive metabolites and phytochemicals, as well as their potential as bio-indicators, has given them an increasingly prominent role in modern research into medicine, cosmetics, food, and more.

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen provides a comprehensive overview of these bountiful flora and their properties. It provides not only in-depth analysis of lichen physiology and ecology, but also a thorough survey of their modern and growing applications. It provides all the tools readers need to domesticate lichen and bring their properties to bear on some of humanity’s most intractable scientific problems.

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen readers will also find:

Chemistry, Biology and Pharmacology of Lichen is ideal for scientists and researchers in ethnobotany, pharmacology, chemistry, and biology, as well as teachers and students with an interest in biologically important lichens.

It is gratifying to see the enthusiasm of Indian mycologists for lichens grow over the last 25 years, especially in their possible exploitation. That this book has a staggering 63 contributors, of which all but seven are from India or Pakistan, is a testament to that enthusiasm. Following a series of nine chapters on general aspects of lichen biology, conservation and ecology, are ten on different aspects of actual or prospected applications. These cover traditional uses, therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds, antioxidant properties, antimicrobial activities, anticancer drugs, food value, perfumery and cosmetics, bioindication, and nanoparticles. One contribution compiles ethnobotanical and pharmacological properties of four particular genera (Cetraria, Cladonia, Parmelia s.lat., and Usnea). The compilations of pertinent very scattered publications and reports will be of value for anyone wishing to explore particular activities further, especially as starting points for fresh research. However, it has to be recognized that many of the studies commented on, especially in relation to potential medical applications, are based on individual rather small-scale studies (and not always on precisely identified material). Further, in many chapters, published reports are carefully compiled but generally accepted without indications of their limitations. I was concerned to see that in the chapter on taxonomy, lichens were not presented from the standpoint of the phylogenetic placements of the fungal partners (to which the “lichen” name applies). Instead, it is Zahlbruckner’s system that is used, treating them as a separate group divided into Ascolichens, Basidiolichens, and categories such as Gymnocarpeae. In justification they say this “has been widely adopted by all British lichenologists” and give a reference to a 1959 publication! It is sad to see such obsolete treatments being perpetuated, as in addition to misleading readers it may inhibit them from looking into what is known of the activities and properties of related non-lichen fungi and their products. There are also inconsistencies in the scientific names used, and erratic use of author citations (which in any case have no place in nontaxonomic works). It is unfortunate that a work on a subject of such potentially wide interest was evidently not as critically reviewed and edited to the standard I would have expected from such a prestigious and respected publisher.David L. Hawksworth, 2024 Mycological book news, Fungal Biology Reviews, Volume 50, 2024, 100399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbr.2024.100399

Fungal natural products are among some of the earliest described sources of bioactive compounds. Basidiomycetes have been a prolific source of compounds, particularly as a source of antibiotics and antifungals. Despite advances in target-based and synthetic methods for drug discovery, natural products continue to be an important source of novel compounds.

This book is a comprehensive guide to many important fungal species with a focus on their phytochemistry, potential sources of bioactive compounds, known chemistry and toxicology. This book is an ideal companion to researchers and postgraduates in phytochemistry and natural product pharmacology, and mycologists.

Fungal natural products are among some of the earliest described sources of bioactive compounds. Basidiomycetes have been a prolific source of compounds, particularly as a source of antibiotics and antifungals. Despite advances in target-based and synthetic methods for drug discovery, natural products continue to be an important source of novel compounds.

This book is a comprehensive guide to many important fungal species with a focus on their phytochemistry, potential sources of bioactive compounds, known chemistry and toxicology. This book is an ideal companion to researchers and postgraduates in phytochemistry and natural product pharmacology, and mycologists.