Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants

This new edition of the book by Jean Bruneton has been revised and expanded by
over 200 pages, to reflect the most recent advances (natural or semisynthetic
substances) as well as the most recent contributions to the therapeutic
arsenal (antimalarial, antitumor, or antiretroviral agents). Building upon
biosynthetic relationships, the author describes the different classes of
metabolites and the drugs that produce them. Organized in four parts (primary
metabolites, phenolics, shikimates and acetates, terpenes and steroids,
alkaloids), the book develops for each class, phytochemical generalities,
distribution, biosynthesis, extraction and quantitation methods, and
biological aspects. For each raw material, it presents the origin, identity,
production, composition, uses, processing and optimization: thus a
considerable amount of botanical, chemical, analytical, pharmacological and
therapeutic data is gathered into a particularly coherent compilation, for
each product, the therapeutic indications and recommended usage are specified.
An extensive index (about 3 000 entries) and nearly 500 recent references
represent a valuable starting point for the reader's own lietrature research.
This encyclopedia of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry is written for students,
educators and professionals using plant resources in pharmacy, cosmetology,
perfumery, botany, food technology and other fields.