This edited book deals with medicinal plants (herbs and trees) used in critical diseases which contain a rich resource of bioactive compounds that can be used as immuno-boosters or recommended for therapeutic values. Each chapter provides the basic information such as taxonomic description, occurrence and importance of medicinal plants. The detail description of major bioactive compounds in medicinal plants, their chemical nature and clear flow chart of biosynthesis are important steps in this book. This book also includes conservation strategy both in-situ and ex-situ, which assist the research and academic purpose. This book is of interest to national and international researchers, teacher’s, pharma scientists, and policymakers. Also, the book serves as additional reading material for both undergraduate and graduate students of pharma and agriculture in the world.

This book presents a comprehensive guide to traditional immunity-boosting medicinal plants of the Himalayas, their traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, diversity, conversation, biotechnology, toxicology, as well as future prospective. All the chapters cover the latest advances in ethnobotany, phytochemistry, biochemistry, and biotechnology. The book offers a valuable asset for researchers and graduate students of chemistry, botany, biotechnology, microbiology, and the pharmaceutical sciences. The main purpose of the present book is to draw on the rich culture, folklore, and biodiversity of immunity-boosting medicinal plants of the Western Himalayas, with particular emphasis on the Indian Trans-Himalayan and Western Himalayan region. All the plants included in the present book are extensively used by the local tribes and people for their health-promoting properties from ancient times. This book will be a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the region and the country. Also, the book will be very useful to scientists, graduates, and undergraduates, along with researchers in the fields of natural products, herbal medicines, ethnobotany, pharmacology, chemistry, and biology. Further, it is an equally significant resource for a person working in different traditional medicinal systems; doctors (especially those engaged in Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicinal system, Amchi, and allopathy); the pharmaceutical industry (for drug design and synthesis); biochemistry and biotechnology sciences; and the agricultural sciences.

Drawing on indigenous and scientific knowledge of medicinal plants, Traditional Herbal Therapy for the Human Immune System presents the protective and therapeutic potential of plant-based drinks, supplements, nutraceuticals, synergy food, superfoods, and other products. Medicinal plants and their products can affect the immune system and act as immunomodulators. Medicinal plants are popularly used in folk medicine to accelerate the human immune defence and improve body reactions against infectious or exogenous injuries, as well as to suppress the abnormal immune response occurring in immune disorders. This book explains how medicinal plants can act as a source of vitamins and improve body functions such as enhanced oxygen circulation, maintained blood pressure and improved mood. It also outlines how specific properties of certain plants can help boost the immune system of humans with cancer, HIV, and COVID-19. Key features: Provides specific information on how to accelerate and or fortify the human immune system by using medicinal plants. Presents scientific understanding of herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees and their potential uses in conventional and herbal medicine systems. Discusses the specific role of herbal plants that act as antiviral and antibacterial agents and offer boosted immunity for cancer, H1N1 virus, relieving swine flu, HIV and COVID-19 patients. Part of the Exploring Medicinal Plants series, this book is useful for researchers and students, as well as policy makers and people working in industry, who have an interest in plant-derived medications.

With over 820 million people facing hunger in today’s world, the need of the hour is the design of plant varieties with high yield, improved traits, and resistance properties in order to mitigate the detrimental impacts of biotic and abiotic stress conditions on food crops. This volume highlights the use of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated nuclease proteins as a solution for sustainable agriculture. CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing (GE) provides a robust, simple, precise, efficient, economical, and revolutionary toolbox that leads to improved plant traits with enhanced yield, quality, and resistance against various stresses, including climate-related stress, insect pests and diseases, pollution-related stresses, etc. Key features of the book: Explains the differences between conventional breeding, genetically modified crops, and genome editing approaches using CRISPR/Cas Introduces the tools of genome editing, such as ZFNS (zinc finger nucleases), mega nucleases, and TLENS (transcription activator-like effector nucleases) Covers the history, origin, discovery, structure, and classification of CRISPR/Cas Examines the databases and computational approaches of CRISPR/Cas Highlights genome editing of important crop plants with CRISPR/Cas systems, including wheat, maize. tomato, Brassica crops, rice, fruits Explores potential applications of CRISPR/Cas systems for climate smart crops

Faced with widespread and devastating loss of biodiversity in wild habitats, scientists have developed innovative strategies for studying and protecting targeted plant and animal species in "off-site" facilities such as botanic gardens and zoos. Such ex situ work is an increasingly important component of conservation and restoration efforts. Ex Situ Plant Conservation, edited by Edward O. Guerrant Jr., Kayri Havens, and Mike Maunder, is the first book to address integrated plant conservation strategies and to examine the scientific, technical, and strategic bases of the ex situ approach. The book examines where and how ex situ investment can best support in situ conservation. Ex Situ Plant Conservation outlines the role, value, and limits of ex situ conservation as well as updating best management practices for the field, and is an invaluable resource for plant conservation practitioners at botanic gardens, zoos, and other conservation organizations; students and faculty in conservation biology and related fields; managers of protected areas and other public and private lands; and policymakers and members of the international community concerned with species conservation.

Shyam Kishor Agarwal, b. 1943, Indian botanist; contributed articles.

Syngnathids are a large and diverse group of fishes, including seahorses, pipefishes, seadragons and pipehorses, These iconic and vulnerable fishes are distributed worldwide in warm temperate to tropical environments, usually in coastal shallow water. Most species are marine and strongly associated with vegetal communities or coral reefs, which provide shelter and the necessary dietary resources. Syngnathids have a unique reproductive mode with parental care, diverse brooding structures and other special characteristics that make them highly vulnerable. These iconic fishes are facing several threats, namely environmental disturbances and habitat regression. However, many of their biological, ecological and physiological characteristics have been poorly investigated and limited to a few species. Despite their vulnerability, to date, a large number of species are listed as Data Deficient (meaning they could potentially be threatened) by IUCN due to inadequate or insufficient information, mainly on distribution and/or population status. Due to the progressive regression of wild populations, long-term monitoring programs are necessary to evaluate population dynamics, fisheries, and habitat quality. On the other hand, these charismatic fishes, especially seahorses, are excellent flagship species for marine biodiversity conservation. Unfortunately, illegal harvesting and traffic of seahorses and other syngnathids is a fact, despite CITES controls. Hence, the development of new tools for fish traceability and updated policies are also necessary to reduce the threats to these fishes.