Dictionary of South American Trees provides a single-source reference for botanists, biologists, ecologists, and climatologists on the many native trees in South America. The index lets readers find a tree in four languages, by its common name, or abbreviation, followed by taxonomy that includes common uses for each part of the tree. Using this information, scientists and students can identify and classify plants, their growth structure and environment, the uses of their products, and alternative options with similar characteristics. - Complete coverage of all native South American trees—the only single-source reference for botanists, biologists, ecologists and climatologists working in this diverse and changing region - Includes taxonomy at genera, species, sub-species, and varietal levels, providing information from the most basic level up and allowing readers to identify their subjects using numerous criteria - Indicates Latin, English, French, and Spanish names as well as common names and abbreviations, facilitating accurate and efficient identification - Provides growth information, climatology, ecology and uses for the tree to provide insight into each tree as well as for comparative purposes when seeking similar tree-based resources

Essential oils, well-known for their remarkable properties, have played a ubiquitous role throughout human history. They connect us to our past, invoking memories of childhood places and the aromas of our grandparents' kitchens. From the fragrant scents of ancient Egypt to the natural preservatives found in 15th century Oriental spices, essential oils have the ability to stimulate, numb, and captivate our senses through their effects on the central nervous system. This book presents several innovative studies on the isolation, biological, and pharmacological properties of essential oils, conducted by multidisciplinary groups from different countries.

Given novel infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and antibiotic resistance new antimicrobial discovery is an important research area. Considering that nature is a vast source of bioactive molecules with antimicrobial activity, the main aim of this book is to present a comprehensive outlook of current research in the field of natural antimicrobials. It discusses the antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants, beehives, and mushrooms with a global coverage of antimicrobial agents from rich forests of Brazil (Amazon), North-Eastern forests of Peru, Argentina, Colombia, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Middle East, Turkey, Croatia, Greece, Germany and Russia. The book covers the results of the in vitro screening of antimicrobial activities of extracts and isolated compounds from natural origins. It is divided into three sections: i) Section I, includes natural antimicrobials from plants; ii) Section II incorporates antimicrobial agents/secondary metabolites from plants, and (iii) Section III focuses on antimicrobials from mushrooms, beehive and delivery systems for different types of antimicrobials. Promising Antimicrobials From Natural Products is immensely useful for post graduate students, researchers in plant science, microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacology, pharma companies and those who are interested in herbal, eco-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable antimicrobials

The book provides valuable information on wild plants and their ethnopharmacological properties, discussion on ethnobotany, phytotherapy, diversity, chemical and pharmacological properties including antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antiprotozal properties. The chapters include a wide range of case studies, giving updated evidence on importance of wild plant resources from different countries including Nepal, India, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Peru, etc. In addition, some specific species are used to explain their potential properties. Discussing traditional usage and pharmacological properties of wild plants, this book is entirely different from other related publications and useful for the researchers working in the areas of conservation biology, botany, ethnobiology, ethnopharmacology, policy making, etc.

Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds comprises of carefully selected studies focusing on the importance of ethnobotanical data as an effective approach towards the discovery of novel ethnopharmacological properties and bioactive compounds that characterize herbal products, pharmaceutical drugs and medicinal plants. This book incorporates therapeutic, nutritional, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of medicinal plants, mechanisms of action and clinical trials of bioactive compounds as well as the molecular basis of the bioactive compounds from the perspective of modern phytochemistry. This book will be useful for a diverse group of readers including students, botanists, pharmacists, chemists, herbalists and those researchers interested in ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology.

The present book offers an overall up-to-date overview of the biological diversity, comprising many interesting chapters focussing on the different aspects of biodiversity. Most of the chapters include findings of investigations and observations on biodiversity, whilst a few are based on statistically and theoretically derived information. The book produced sufficient information on the occurrence and distribution of many plant and animal species or groups of organisms with environmental estimates from a wide variety of interesting terrestrial and aquatic habitats. With 18 interesting and elaborately prepared chapters, the present book would definitely be an ideal source of scientific information to the advanced students, junior researchers, scientists and a portion of the public involved in ecology and other research areas involving biodiversity studies. It will also help to the development of the growing awareness of the close linkage between the conversation of biodiversity and economic development.

This book offers a broad summary of the wild plants and their usage, as well as the growing interest in ethnopharmacology research. The book comprises of important issues such as diversity of wild plants with emphasis on medicinal and food plants, threats to wild plants and traditional ethnobotanical knowledge, their uses in skin diseases, snake-bites, in cosmeceuticals, etc. Moreover, the ethnopharmacological relevance of wild plants in Latin America has been discussed. The chapters include a wide range of case studies, giving updated evidence on the importance of their wild plant resources from different countries including Peru, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Brazil. In addition, some specific species are used to explain their potential properties, as well as the dangers of their use without guidance of trained natural healers. The book discusses traditional usage and properties of wild plants and is entirely different from other related publications and useful for the researchers working in the areas of conservation biology, botany, ethnobiology, ethnopharmacology, policymakers, etc.

Shamanism is commonly understood through reference to spirits and souls. However, these terms were introduced by Christian missionaries as part of the colonial effort of conversion. So, rather than trying to comprehend shamanism through medieval European concepts, this book examines it through ideas that started developing in the West after encountering Amerindian shamans. Microbes and Other Shamanic Beings develops three major arguments: First, since their earliest accounts Amerindian shamanic notions have had more in common with current microbial ecology than with Christian religious beliefs. Second, the human senses allow the unaided perception of the microbial world; for example, entoptic vision allows one to see microscopic objects flowing through the retina and shamans employ techniques that enhance precisely these kinds of perception. Lastly, the theory that some diseases are produced by living agents acquired through contagion was proposed right after Contact in relation to syphilis, an important subject of pre-Contact Amerindian medicine and mythology, which was treasured and translated by European physicians. Despite these early translations, the West took four centuries to rediscover germs and bring microbiology into mainstream science. Giraldo Herrera reclaims this knowledge and lays the fundaments for an ethnomicrobiology. It will appeal to anyone curious about shamanism and willing to take it seriously and to those enquiring about the microbiome, our relations with microbes and the long history behind them.

Introduces readers to the growing applications of nutraceuticals and other natural product derivatives This comprehensive book presents a prophylactic and therapeutic approach to chronic disease prevention strategy by highlighting the translational potential of plant-derived dietary and non-dietary factors from epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical studies. It also shares the experiences of highly reputed experts working in the area of phytomedicine and nutraceutical agents in chemoprevention, to promote the significance of natural products and dietary factors as an elite priority for containing chronic diseases in the human population. Nutraceuticals and Natural Product Derivatives: Disease Prevention & Drug Discovery starts by examining natural food sources for the control of glycemia and the prevention of diabetic complications. It then looks at the anti-aging effects of sulfur-containing amino acids and nutraceuticals, and the potential of garcinia fruits to combat metabolic syndrome. Other topics covered include honey- and propolis-mediated regulation of protein networks in cancer cells; recent trends in drug discovery against Alzheimer’s disease; the therapeutic potential of metalloherbal nanoceuticals; and much more. Offers an alternative, natural approach to the prevention of chronic diseases Emphasizes the potential of plant-derived dietary and non-dietary factors from epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical studies Features contributions from world-renowned experts in the field of phytomedicine and nutraceutical agents in chemoprevention Includes prevention strategies in normal/risk populations through routine inclusion of specific dietary regimens and as therapeutic strategy for better management through adjuvant interventions with conventional treatment protocols Nutraceuticals and Natural Product Derivatives: Disease Prevention & Drug Discovery will appeal to graduate students and professionals in cell and molecular biology, translational research, pharmacology/drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, and clinical nutrition.

Medicinal plants have been used in the prevention, diagnosis, and elimination of diseases based on the practical experience of thousands of years. There is a pressing need to initiate and transform laboratory research into fruitful formulations leading to the development of newer products for the cure of diseases such as AIDS, cancer, and hepatitis