Contents


Preface

The natural products derived from medicinal plants have proven to be an abundant source of bioactive compounds, many of which have been the basis for the development of new, leading bioactive molecules in the drug discovery program. With respect to diseases caused by microorganisms, the increasing resistance in many common pathogens to currently used therapeutic agents, such as antibiotics and antiviral agents, has led to the discovery of novel anti-infective chemicals. Currently, information about medicinal plants is contained in somewhat disjointed reports about the helpful qualities and toxic effects of different plant species throughout the world. The aim of this book is to help bring more unity and understanding to this complicated and often contradictory jumble of information.

Some of the most compelling reasons for writing this book include the following:

• While there has been a great deal of progress made in understanding extracts of plants, a general lack of knowledge and much misinformation remain about

• Many of the natural products in plants offer us new sources of drugs that have been used effectively for centuries in traditional medicine. Many compounds used in medicine today have original derivatives that were of plant origin.

• Plants are sources of poisons, addictive drugs, and hallucinogens, which have

• Many people are interested in using plants parts as traditional medicine, but these people must be made aware of potential harmful effects of such prepara-

This contributed volume is organized into four chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the uses of plant extracts and some bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and their potential in the drug discovery program. Chapter 2 discusses the practical experience of Chinese traditional medicine and its preparations. China has a long history in effectively using traditional medicine in different ways to treat diseases that cannot be cured by conventional medicine. Chapters 3 and 4 present research findings on bio-activities of different plants extracts. Faba bean extracts, characterized by a high content of phenolic compounds and condensed tannins, are discussed in Chapter 3, while the antiviral activity of the *Phyllanthus* species is evaluated in Chapter 4.

This book is useful to natural product chemists, pharmacologists, pharmacists, research investigators in industry, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and practitioners of integrative medicine; ethnobotanists, organic gardeners, and farmers; and those interested in herbs and herbal medicine. With the growing interest in this field by professionals and the general public alike, we thought it important to produce a book that encompasses as much information as possible on the importance of extracts obtained from medicinal plants in today's world. We hope that this

natural products in plants and their uses by people.

importance in human medicine.

tions unless properly formulated.

book helps to meet this need.
