BIOAGTIVE MEDICINAL PlANTS BIOAGTIVE MEDIGINAL PlANTS Editor Dharamvir Hota 2007 Gene-Tech Books New Delhi - 110 002 2007, © Publisher Information contained in this work has been published by Gene Tech Books and has been obtained by its author(s)/editor(s) from sources believed to be reliable and are correct to the best of their knowledge. However, the publisher and its author(s) make no representation of warranties with respect of accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book, and shall in no event be liable for any errors, omissions or damages arising out of use of this information and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. All rights reserved. Including the right to translate or to reproduce this book or parts thereof except for brief quotation. in critical reviews. ISBN 81-89729-19-5 Published by GENE-TECH BOOKS 4762-63/23, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, NEW DEllil - 110002 Phone: 41562849 e-mail: [email protected] Printed at Tarun Offset Printers Delhi PRINTED IN INDIA Preface Medicinal plants are plants whose extracts can be used directly or indirectly for the treatment of different ailments. The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed. In the world more than 30 per cent of the pharmaceutical preparations are based on plants. Scientists throughout the world are trying to explore the precious assets of medicinal plants to help the suffering humanity. An increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialised societies has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs and chemotherapeutics from these plants. The medicinal values of these plants are due to the presence of small doses of active compounds which produces phYSiological actions in the human and animal body. Some of the important bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants are alkaloids, glycosid~s, resins, gums, mucilages etc. The present book explores the recent developments in the field of botanical medicine. It provides vital information on various bioactive compounds. present in plants and their use in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. Educated readers, practitioners, and academics of natural sciences will be benefited by the contents of this work. Editor Contents Preface v 1. Therapeutic Value of Medicinal Plants 1 2. Plant-based Biopharmaceuticals 21 ' \ 3. Identification of Bioactive Compounds in Plants 41 4. Plant-based Antimicrobials 55 5. Validity of Ethnomedicines 76 6. Evaluation of Plant Extracts 87 .- , 7. Forest Botanicals as Pharmaceuticals 97 8. Medicinal Value of Phytoecdysteroids 111 9. Herb-drug Interactions 122 10. Bioactive Compounds in Legume Natural Products 158 11. Production of Secondary Metabolites from Medicinal Plants 173 12. Herbal Pharmacokinetics 189 13. Risks of Plant-derived Vaccines 203 14. Conservation of Medicinal Plants 223 Bibliography 265 Index 267 1 Therapeutic Value of Medicinal Plants Medicinal plants are an integral component of ethnoveterinary medicine. Medicinal plants, since times immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine. The widespread use of herbal remedies and healthcare preparations, as those described in ancient texts such as the Vedas and the Bible, and obtained from commonly used traditional herbs and medicinal plants, has been traced to the occurrence of natural products with medicinal properties. The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed. Furthermore, an increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialised societies has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs and chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used rural herbal remedies. Moreover, in these societies, herbal remedies have become more popular in the treatment of minor ailments, and also on account of the increasing costs of personal health maintenance. Indeed, the market and public demand has been so great that there is a great risk that many medicinal plants today, face either extinction or loss of genetic diversity.