About the Book
Medicinal plants are value added for the content and chemical composition of their active components. Therefore, the demand on plant based therapeutics has increased many fold in both developing and developed countries due to the growing recognition that they are natural products, being non-narcotic, having no side-effects, easily available at affordable prices. In a wider context, there is a growing demand for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. International market of medicinal plants is over US $ 60 billion per year, which is growing at the rate of 7% and expected to be US $ 5 trillion by 2050. Herbal remedies would become increasingly important especially in developing countries. Progress in medicinal plants research has undergone a phenomenal growth during last two decades. The input of biochemistry to pharmacology has grown. Molecular pharmacology puts more emphasis on the mode of action of drugs. Worldwide trend towards the utilization of natural plant remedies has created an enormous need for information about the properties and uses of the medicinal plants. Based on this rationale, the present series Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants brought out eight volumes, in the first phase, providing edited information from over 225 original and review papers by eminent scientists and researchers from India and abroad on a wide range of topics in the areas of Ethno medicine, Pharmacognosy, Photochemistry, Pharmacology, Aesthetics, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Crop Improvement, Production Technology, Trade and Commerce, Diseases and their Management etc. In continuation to these foregone efforts, further eight volumes (9-16) viz., Plant Bioactive in Traditional Medicine; Phototherapeutics; Drug Development from New Molecules; Globalization of Herbal Health; Search for Natural Drugs; Biopharmaceuticals; Natural Products; Phytomedicines, providing recent research data in the areas of medicinal plants investigations, aimed at discovering new drugs of plants origin, were presented. Continuing with the ongoing efforts and over-whelming response, the Series editors have been hard pressed to bring out further nine volumes (Vols: 17-25) of the series on herbal drugs containing recent researches on bioreactive components based on their photochemistry and psychopharmacology in order to discover potential drugs coupled with their therapeutic values. In this direction, nine volumes (17-25) on Photochemistry and Pharmacology III, Natural Products II, Psychopharmacology and Therapeutic Values I, II, III, IV & V, Standardization of Herbal / Ayurvedic Formulations and Chemistry and Medicinal Value were published. Thus the publication of 25 volumes of "Recent Progress in Medicinal Plan ts" (2002-2009) provides a comprehensive account of nearly 1800 important medicinal plants for producing drugs, cosmetics, perfumery etc. Hence, it was felt that there is an urgent need to document these 25 volumes in a more condensed form for scientist's desk reference in day to day research activity. Considering the importance of such a resource book, it was planned to bring out Vol. 26 containing the abstracts of papers published in 25 volume-set of Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants. The Vol. 26- "Cumulative Index to Abstracts, Vols. 1-25"- provides information on some 1282 abstracts of original and review papers published in the aforesaid volumes. Considering the fact that many traditional remedies are back to therapeutic use, including plants as such, or extracts prepared in accordance with the pharmacopoeia of the country where they are used. These medicinal plants are increasingly used as (i) source of direct therapeutic agents; (ii) as a raw material base for the elaboration of more complex semi-synthetic chemical compounds; (iii) as models for new synthetic compounds; and, (iv) as taxonomic markers for the discovery of new compounds. In addition to these applications in developed countries, naturally, the medicinal plants will continue to be used increasingly in developing countries, where they are a traditional source of medicine for generations. This has created renewed interest of scientists in medicinal plants and research is at phenomenal rate. We have received excellent studies for publication. It was, therefore, felt desirable to bring out further Volumes of the series, covering recent global updates in medicinal plants researches. This includes 3 specialized Vols (Vol. 36-38) on Essential Oils. Learning, recently, the intense research activities in biotechnology, pharmacology and biochemical actions and the rapid increase of knowledge in the field of traditional medicine, it appeared desirable to bring further specialized volumes on Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering II (Vol. 39), Flavonoids and Antioxidants (Vol. 40), Analytical and Processing Techniques (Vol. 41), Nutraceutical and Functional Foods (Vol. 42) and Phototherapeutics II & III (Vols. 43 & 44).The Chief Editor Dr. J N Govil was hard pressed by Academicians, Researchers, Industries & Relevant Govt. Agencies to further bring disease-oriented volumes in the Series. Considering the great demand, the editors have brought out four volumes on Metabolic Disorders. Two volumes on Diabetes I & II (Vols 45 & 46), while one volume each on Hyperlipidemia (Vol. 47) and Hypertension (Vol. 48) publication of these volumes incorporating the articles contributed by eminent scholars over the globe in the field of Medicinal Plants will definitely be useful by way of providing latest upcoming advances and developments in the field of Herbal Drugs. It is hoped these volumes will open new vistas of knowledge and the information presented will lead to further research in the discovery of new drugs of natural origin and serve as good source of material for future work.
About the Author :
J.N. Govil (b. 1945): Obtained his Master's and Doctorate degrees from Agra University, Agra, India. In his career span of 41 years research experience at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Dr. Govil has been involved in the breeding of cross-pollinated, often cross-pollinated, and self-pollinated crops. His research was mainly focused on breeding for better quality, disease resistance, and for higher productivity in Pennisetum, Sorghum, maize, chickpea, and pigeon pea. During these years at IARI, he has released nine varieties of early pigeon pea in arhar-wheat rotation. Dr. Govil has been well exposed to the international scientific community through various programmes at UK, Denmark and Thailand. He also participated in various international seminars and conferences. Dr. Govil is credited with more than ninety research papers in various journals of national and international repute in various aspects of genetics, crop breeding, and topics on general agriculture. He has also guided more than a dozen post-graduate students. Dr. Govil is recipient of no. of Awards and Honor presented by ICAR and Agricultural Societies. He has written and edited a number of books on Medicinal Plants and other books with international authors. A new series "Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants" has been published by Studium Press, LLC, USA in 48 volumes under Dr. Govil's Chief Editorship. Dr. Govil has been the main resource person as Executive Editor in Execution, Co-ordination and Completion of Projects in bringing 12 Vols Set each on Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Energy Science and Technology, and Environmental Science and Engineering. Simultaneously, Dr. Govil has brought four volumes set of Chemical Technology Series comprising 2 vols each on Advances in Fertilizer Technology as well as on Petroleum Engineering under the capacity of Acquisition Editor of the Series. Dr. Govil retired from ICAR service during the year 2007. Presently, he is working as Publishing Director and Managing Editor with Studium Press LLC, USA (Camped at New Delhi, India) and has brought out nearly 310 scientific book's publication during last eleven years. E-mail: jngovil@gmail.com; jngovil@hotmail.com.
Dr. Anita Bhardwaj, BAMS, MHA, PGDHRM (Amity), PGDHJ, Joint Medical Director, Six Sigma Star Healthcare, Delhi. A member of the founding family, Dr. Anita Bhardwaj actively participated in the inception of Six Sigma Healthcare & Global Institute of Healthcare Management. Recently Govt. of India awarded her with India's Most Prestigious National e Governance Award 2016-17. She is the recipient of "Kalpana Chawla Shaurya Award 2016" by the Government of Haryana, DCW Achievement Award by Govt. of Delhi & High Altitude Medical Services Award by Six Sigma High Altitude Medical Services. Dr. Anita Bhardwaj has been pivotal in directing operations for the entire Six Sigma Group and under her able stewardship Six Sigma emerged as India's first Healthcare consultancy. Instrumental in growing the group's High Altitude Medical Services at Uttrakhand Flood, Nepal Earthquake, Kailash Mansarover Yatra at China and Manimahesh Yatra 2015, Manimahesh Yatra Medical Services 2017. Dr. Anita steers Six Sigma thrust on research, innovation, Ayurveda and healthcare initiatives. She is also the member of High Altitude Medical Rescue team. Dr. Anita Bhardwaj graduated from the University of Delhi, India. She had taken post-graduate and executive courses in Hospital Administration, Journalism and Human Resource Management.
