Pharmacognosy

Contents: Preface. 1. Scope and development of pharmacognosy. 2. Sources of drugs. 3. Classification of drugs. 4. Plant taxonomy. 5. Cultivation, collection, processing and storage of crude drugs. 6. Quality control of crude drugs. 7. Active constituents of drugs. 8. Carbohydrates and derived products. 9. Lipids. 10. Resins. 11. Tannins. 12. Volatile oills. 13. Phytochemical screening. 14. Fibres. 15. Saponins. 16. Cardioactive sterols. 17. Anthraquinone cathartics. 18. Traditional drugs. 19. Alkaloid drugs. 20. Role of medicinal and aromatic plants in national economy. 21. Sources of pharmacologically useful enzymes. 22. Metabolic pathways in drug development. 23. Trade of medicinal plants. 24. Historical development of plant tissue culture. 25. Marine pharmacognosy. Bibliography. Index.

"The modern pharmacist is responsible for the quality of the drugs compounded for and dispensed to a patient, and as such, natural sources of medicine provide a more organic and better medium of drug administration. Amongst the most popular sources of pharmacognostic drugs are medicinal plants as well as some exotic animals both of which combine to, contribute a lot to this industry.

The book takes a close look at the processes, practices and principles which lie behind pharmacognosy, as well as the issues that lie beneath the surface, including those of biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources resulting from the use of pharmacognosy. In addition, the look brings within its purview recent developments in the field, its legal and ethical implications, as well as the manufacturing and marketing of the nature based products of the field.  The tone of the book has been maintained easy-to-read, the better to foster comprehensive understanding of pharmacognosy.  

It is hoped that the easy-to-read format, comprehensiveness and the insight of the book serves well for all the readers." (jacket)