Mallappa Kumara Swamy – författare

Paclitaxel: Sources, Chemistry, Anticancer Actions, and Current Biotechnology provides a comprehensive survey of Paclitaxel and its derivatives chemistry, biosynthesis and anticancer activities. In addition, biotechnological methods, including cell cultures, the use of bioreactors and metabolic engineering strategies to improve Paclitaxel production are also discussed. The book discusses topics such as mechanisms of action against cancer, novel forms of Paclitaxel for an effective cancer treatment, strategies for enhancing its bioavailability, and the application of nanocarriers for its delivery and chemotherapy of cancer.

This is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, biotechnologists and members of biomedical field who are interested in the promising anticancer qualities of this antineoplastic drug and how to enhance them for better treatments.

Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin used since ancient times for incense, perfume and aromatherapy. It is readily available as an essential oil or as a supplement or extract, and studies have shown that it may enhance heart health and liver health and soothe pain and inflammation. This new volume is a comprehensive desktop reference book specifically gum olibanum - frankincense. It introduces the significance of the species and covers the botany, phytochemistry, propagation, extraction, and pharmacological uses. It also discusses the species’ genetic diversity using molecular markers, in vitro propagation and biotechnological aspects of Boswellia species, the trade and commerce of frankincense, and as well as its threats and conservation.

Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin used since ancient times for incense, perfume and aromatherapy. It is readily available as an essential oil or as a supplement or extract, and studies have shown that it may enhance heart health and liver health and soothe pain and inflammation. This new volume is a comprehensive desktop reference book specifically gum olibanum - frankincense. It introduces the significance of the species and covers the botany, phytochemistry, propagation, extraction, and pharmacological uses. It also discusses the species’ genetic diversity using molecular markers, in vitro propagation and biotechnological aspects of Boswellia species, the trade and commerce of frankincense, and as well as its threats and conservation.

Polysaccharide gums have a wide range of applications due to their hydrophilic properties. They have been used as a gelling agent, encapsulating agent, thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer. Sourcing natural gums from botanical and plant sources has become an important focus in producing acceptable food ingredients in liquids and semi-solid forms. This is mainly because of the positive attitude of consumers toward plant-based gums rather than other gums from animal and microbial sources.

Gum karaya, also known as Indian tragacanth, is a vegetable gum produced as an exudate by trees of the genus Sterculia. Gum karaya has very strong swelling properties, high viscosity, and very poor solubility because of its acetyl groups. Therefore, it is mainly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Gum karaya is one of the least-soluble gums used for many industries, such as petroleum and gas, textile, paper and pulp, leather and allied products, ammunition and explosives, electrical appliances, adhesives, confectionery, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Because of the crude tapping method and overexploitation, the population of karaya trees has markedly declined. In the absence of cultivation of this tree on the regular plantation, there is grave concern about the loss of wild germplasm of S. aurens. As gum karaya is vital for the tribal economy and its trade value is substantial, there is a pressing need to develop a scientific and sustainable tapping method to increase the yield and ensure the survival of the tapped trees. There is also a need for a large-scale plantation of gum karaya. People are becoming health-conscious and are taking natural products as food ingredients. This book will be useful to all the people interested in natural food additives.

Polysaccharide gums have a wide range of applications due to their hydrophilic properties. They have been used as a gelling agent, encapsulating agent, thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer. Sourcing natural gums from botanical and plant sources has become an important focus in producing acceptable food ingredients in liquids and semi-solid forms. This is mainly because of the positive attitude of consumers toward plant-based gums rather than other gums from animal and microbial sources.

Gum karaya, also known as Indian tragacanth, is a vegetable gum produced as an exudate by trees of the genus Sterculia. Gum karaya has very strong swelling properties, high viscosity, and very poor solubility because of its acetyl groups. Therefore, it is mainly used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Gum karaya is one of the least-soluble gums used for many industries, such as petroleum and gas, textile, paper and pulp, leather and allied products, ammunition and explosives, electrical appliances, adhesives, confectionery, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Because of the crude tapping method and overexploitation, the population of karaya trees has markedly declined. In the absence of cultivation of this tree on the regular plantation, there is grave concern about the loss of wild germplasm of S. aurens. As gum karaya is vital for the tribal economy and its trade value is substantial, there is a pressing need to develop a scientific and sustainable tapping method to increase the yield and ensure the survival of the tapped trees. There is also a need for a large-scale plantation of gum karaya. People are becoming health-conscious and are taking natural products as food ingredients. This book will be useful to all the people interested in natural food additives.

This volume provides summarized scientific evidence of the different classes of plant-derived phytocompounds, their sources, chemical structures, anticancer properties, mechanisms of action, methods of extraction, and their applications in cancer therapy. It also discusses endophyte-derived compounds as chemopreventives to treat various cancer types. In addition, it provides detailed information on the enhanced production of therapeutically valuable anticancer metabolites using biotechnological interventions such as plant cell and tissue culture approaches, including in vitro-, hairy root- and cell-suspension culture; and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways. Anticancer Plants: Natural Products and Biotechnological Implements – Volume 2” explores the natural bioactive compounds isolated from plants as well as fungal endophytes, their chemistry, and preventive effects to reduce the risk of cancer. Moreover, it highlights the genomics/proteomics approaches and biotechnological implementations. Providing solutions to deal with the challenges involved in cancer therapy, the book benefits a wide range of readers including academics, students, and industrial experts working in the area of natural products, medicinal plant chemistry, pharmacology, and biotechnology.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in human beings. Though several synthetic medicines are used to treat cancer, they are largely inefficient and unsafe. In contrast, plants, which have been used for medicinal purposes since time immemorial, have proved to be useful in fighting cancer, with natural compounds from plants and their derivatives offering safe and effective treatment and management for several types of cancer.

Plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their value in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases, and several common anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants.

Unfortunately, many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless and irresponsible harvesting practices. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them on a large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology could be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without the need for cultivation. A better grasp and continuing exploration of these isolated molecules and products could provide a powerful alternative means of reducing cancer risk.

“Anticancer Plants: Volume 3, Clinical Trials and Nanotechnology” provides a timely review of concepts and experimental data on the application of anticancer plants and their compounds in clinical trials, and on the use of nanotechnology in cancer therapy.

This book summarizes the application of plant derived anticancer compounds as chemopreventives to treat several cancer types, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of action of phytocompounds and providing an overview of the basic processes at the cellular and molecular level that are involved in the progression of the cancer and can be employed in targeted preventive therapies. In addition, it highlights the development of novel anticancer drugs from plant sources using bioinformatics approaches. The compiled chapter data aids readers understanding of issues related to bioavailability, toxic effects and mechanisms of action of phytocompounds, and helps them identify the leads and utilize them against various cancer types effectively. Furthermore, it promotes the use of bioinformatics tools in medicinal plants to expedite their use in plant breeding programs to develop molecular markers to distinguish disease subtypes and predicting mutation, which in turn improves cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and to develop new lead compounds computationally. The book provides scientific verifications of plant compounds mechanisms of action against various cancers and offers useful information for students, teachers, and healthcare professionals involved in drug discovery, and clinical and therapeutic research. 

Cancer is one of the leading death cause of human population increasingly seen in recent times. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since immemorial times. Though, several synthetic medicines are useful in treating cancer, they are inefficient and unsafe. However, plants have proved to be useful in cancer cure. Moreover, natural compounds from plants and their derivatives are safe and effective in treatment and management of several cancer types.

The anticancer plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their significance in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases. Nowadays, several well-known anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants. Many of them are used effectively to combat cancer and other related diseases. The herbal medicine and their products are the most suitable and safe to be used as an alternative medicine. Based on their traditional uses and experimental evidences, the anticancer products or compounds are isolated or extracted from the medicinally important plants. Many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless harvesting in nature. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them in large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology can be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without cultivation. The proper knowledge and exploration of these isolated molecules or products could provide an alternative source to reduce cancer risk, anti-tumorigenic properties, and suppression of carcinogen activities.

Anticancer plants: Volume 1, Properties and Application is a very timely effort in this direction. Discussing the various types of anticancer plants as a source of curative agent, their pharmacological and neutraceutical properties, cryo-preservations and recent trends to understand the basic cause and consequences involved in the diseases diagnosis.

We acknowledge the publisher, Springer for their continuous inspiration and valuable suggestions to improvise the content of this book. We further extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our book contributors for their support, and assistance to complete this assignment. I am sure that these books will benefit the scientific communities including academics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and medical practitioners.

Bioactive compounds produced by natural sources, such as plants, microbes, endophytic fungi, etc., can potentially be applied in various fields, including agriculture, biotechnology and biomedicine. Several bioactive compounds have proved to be invaluable in mediating plant-microbe interactions, and promoting plant growth and development. Due to their numerous health-promoting properties, these compounds have been widely used as a source of medication since ancient times. 

However, there is an unprecedented need to meet the growing demand for natural bioactive compounds in the flavor and fragrance, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, discovering new lead molecules from natural sources is essential to overcoming the rising number of new diseases. In this regard, natural bioactive compounds hold tremendous potential for new drug discovery. Therefore, this field of research has become a vital area for researchers interested in understanding the chemistry,biosynthetic mechanisms, and pharmacological activities of these bioactive metabolites. This book describes the basics of bioactive plant compounds, their chemical properties, and their pharmacological biotechnological properties with regard to various human diseases and applications in the drug, cosmetics and herbal industries. It offers a valuable asset for all students, educators, researchers, and healthcare experts involved in agronomy, ecology, crop science, molecular biology, stress physiology, and natural products.