Recent Advances in Herbal Drug Research and Therapy

Traditional systems of medicine are fast emerging as viable alternatives to modern medical science. Further, in recent years the emphasis on botanicals as source for drug discovery and development has been realized globally. Added to this, the safer profile of herbal drugs combined with their low costs make them ideal targets for newer drugs. As in the modern system of medicine, viz. allopathy, herbal drugs form an inseparable part of the management of various disorders. The concept of scientific validation of the basis of traditional uses of herbal medicines has given birth to a new concept of reverse pharmacology, and interactions between traditional and modern systems of medicine are being increasingly encouraged. "Recent Trends in Herbal Drug Research and Therapy" showcases some of these crucial and emerging issues relating to herbal drugs. This compilation is a judicious combination of research and conventional aspects on the subject of herbal drugs, their pharmacology and therapeutic applications. Some very relevant general and systemic pharmacological as well as toxicological aspects have been highlighted by some of the leading experts in this field. The book will be of interest to students, scientists, teachers and other health professionals in the area of pharmacology, toxicology and allied health sciences. Spread in 26 chapters, the book broadly focuses on: standardization and quality control of herbal drugs; regulatory issues like ethics and pharmacovigilance with herbals; clinical research with herbal drugs; herbogenomics; herb-drug interactions; potential therapeutics uses of herbal drugs focusing on various systemic disorders of cardiorespiratory, endocrinal, neuropsychiatric gastrointestinal systems and cancer; and, herbal drugs and environmental toxicology.