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## Meet the editor

Prof. Hany A. El-Shemy received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cairo, Egypt, and a Ph.D. in Genetic Engineering from the University of Hiroshima, Japan. He holds two patents and has written thirteen international books. He has also published more than 100 SCI journal papers and 55 conference presentations. Dr. El-Shemy was a technique committee member as well as chair of many international conferences. He has also

served as editor for journals including *PLOS ONE*, *BMC Genomics*, and *Current Issues in Molecular Biology.* He has received several awards, including state prizes from the Academy of Science, Egypt (2004, 2012, and 2018), the Young Arab Researcher prize from the Shuman Foundation, Jordan (2005), and Cairo University Prizes (2007, 2010, and 2014). He served as an expert for the African Regional Center of Technology, Dakar, Senegal, as well as a visiting professor at Pan African University, African Union. He served as vice president of the Academy of Science and Technology, Egypt, from 2013 to 2014. Since 2014 he has been the dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. In 2018, he was elected a fellow of the African Academy of Science.

Contents

Medicinal Plants *by Aliyu Ahmad Warra*

*by Idris Adewale Ahmed*

in Mizoram, India

**Preface XI**

**Chapter 1 1**

**Chapter 2 23**

**Chapter 3 33**

**Chapter 4 45**

**Chapter 5 61**

**Chapter 6 83**

**Chapter 7 109**

Ethnomedicinal Uses of Some Common Malaysian Medicinal Plants

A Traditional and Pharmacological Approach of Medicinal Plants

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) and the Endocannabinoids:

Phytocosmetics and Phytopharmaceuticals from African

Mass Spectrometry and Its Importance for the Analysis and Discovery of Active Molecules in Natural Products *by Paco Noriega, Gabriela Gortaire and Edison Osorio*

*by Amar Deep Soren and Pawi Bawitlung Lalthanpuii*

A Review on the Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry

*by Kazeeem Akinyinka Akinwumi, Oluwole Olusoji Eleyowo* 

The Importance of *Sceletium tortuosum* (L.) N.E. Brown and Its Viability as a Traditional African Medicinal Plant

and Pharmacological Effect of *Luffa cylindrinca*

*by Richard James Faber, Charles Petrus Laubscher* 

*and Omolara Omowunmi Oladipo*

*and Muhali Olaide Jimoh*

Understanding the Risks and Opportunities *by Steven P. James and Dena Bondugji*

## Contents



Preface

Natural drugs from plants can be used to treat several diseases. As such, this book describes the important plants used by individuals and drug manufacturers worldwide for treating illness and developing novel medications. It consists of sixteen chapters that review plant extracts, their active ingredients (e.g., alkaloids), side effects, and how they compare to synthetic medicines for treating disease.

The book is a useful resource for researchers and students in medicine and

It is also recommended for readers to take a look at a related book, *Natural* 

**Hany A. El-Shemy** Faculty of Agriculture, Biochemistry Department,

> Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

pharmacology.

*Medicinal Plants.*
