Hartwig Schulz - Böcker

Medicinal plants and the natural products within them, still remain the starting point for breakthroughs in the development of safe, pharmacologically active synthetic molecules for use in a wide variety of clinical situations. Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is one of the most ancient medical doctrines, and is well-documented in terms of information about diseases, diagnoses and treatments, especially in the application of medicinal plants. TPM has been used for centuries worldwide, and many of these methods are still used in Iran today. The book introduces the basics of TPM, and describes the key medicinal plants used for the treatment of different diseases. It also highlights possible new targets for research activities in drug discovery of natural products. The book is richly illustrated with historic drawings from old Persian pharmacopoeia and photos of plants in their natural habitats. Reference to Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine and monastic medicine in Europe are also made. While knowledge about medicinal plants used in TPM still exists in Iran there is a risk that the detailed expertise provided by older generations will be lost in the near future. It is therefore very important that this cultural heritage is properly preserved. This book provides a valuable, evidence-based resource on TPM for researchers, practitioners and students in medicinal plants, ethnobotany and herbal medicine.

Tree resins such as mastic, gum arabic, frankincense and myrrh have been used for centuries all over the world. This book presents different fields of application for natural gums and resins in medicine, nutrition and cosmetics, taking some selected medicinal plant species as examples. It provides valuable information and a better understanding of the ecologically sustainable use of these globally significant plant raw materials. This is especially important for the processing industry. The contents include: Historical significance Cultivation Ecologically sustainable use Harvesting and trade Postharvest and storage management Processing for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and perfume industry Protection and conservation of endangered species This book is of interest to researchers in botany and plant science, medicinal plants, pharmacy, chemistry and medicine, also practitioners in herbal and complementary medicine.

Essential oils have been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years. Their applications are highly diverse and range from fragrances to natural constituents of a healthy diet and use as active ingredients in medicinal products. Essential oils are natural complex substances (NCS) - complex mixtures of plants, animals and minerals as they occur in nature, and also as preparations derived from them. The secrets of the mutual interactions of the single substances that constitute NCS have not yet been unveiled. Synergistic, antagonistic and additive effects can all occur. Further research of such complex plant mixtures offers new options for the development of active plant-based medicines and biologically active resources for human, animal and plant life. This is especially important as mono-substance remedies, such as antibiotics, are reaching their therapeutic limits. This book provides a concise insight into essential oils as NCS, their analytic and galenic properties, their use in veterinary medicine and aromatherapy for humans, as well as their role in cosmetic and food industries.

Essential oils (EOs), which mainly consist of volatile organic compounds, have been an integral part of human civilization for thousands of years. Their applications are highly diverse and range from fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics to natural constituents of a healthy diet and use as active ingredients in medicinal products. The antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties of essential oils render them valuable for the treatment and prevention of various diseases. Essential oils are natural complex substances consisting of hundreds of individual compounds. This intricate composition, also referred to as ´natural complex substances´ (NCS), gives each EO its unique properties. The use of EOs as NCS is widespread in practice, e.g. in aromatherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic problems, inhalation for respiratory diseases and topical application for skin diseases. EOs are expected to play an increasingly important role in both human and veterinary medicine in the future. The different functionalities of individual constituents of EOs contribute to their wide range of physical and chemical properties. This diversity allows them to act on multiple targets, offering a wide range of therapeutic benefits compared to single, isolated compounds. This book provides a compact and comprehensive overview of essential oils, their analytical and Galenic characteristics, their use in human and veterinary medicine, and their diverse applications in the cosmetics and food industries.