Medicinal Plants of the World

by Van Wyk, Ben-Erik

• ISBN13: 9780881926026
• ISBN10: 0881926027
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-02-15
• Publisher: Timber Pr

Summary

Medicinal Plants of the World is a comprehensive and scientifically accurate guide to the best-known and most important medicinal plants. The book includes descriptions of more than 300 medicinal plants and their close relatives. Each entry gives a short summary with a description of the plant, the geographical origin, therapeutic category, historical and modern uses, active ingredients, and pharmacological effects. More than 500 full-color photographs assist in the identification of the plants. It is an essential reference guide for health care professionals - doctors, nurses, and especially pharmacists - or anyone with an interest in medicinal plants and their uses.

Author Biography

Ben-Erik van Wyk is a professor of Botany at the Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Table of Contents

Preface	6	(1)
Introduction	7	(1)
Medicine systems of the world	8	(8)
Plant parts used	16	(2)
Dosage forms	18	(2)
Use of medicinal plant products	20	(2)
Active ingredients	22	(2)
Quality control and safety	24	(1)
Efficacy of medicinal plant products	25	(1)
Regulation of herbal remedies and phytomedicines	26	(1)
The plants in alphabetical order	27	(324)
Health disorders and medicinal plants	351	(20)
Overview of secondary metabolites and their effects	371	(24)
Quick guide to commercialised medicinal plants	395	(38)
Glossary	433	(9)
Further reading	442	(3)
General index	445	(34)
Acknowledgements and photo credits	479