Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry (Volume 1)

The second edition of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry - Volume I, is characterised by additions and updating of the earlier material. The book consists of two parts. In the general introduction to pharmacognosy, the book contains independent chapters on Alternative System of Medicines, Introduction to Pharmaceutical Botany, Sources of Crude Drugs, Commerce and Quality Control, Microscopy and Micrometry. The conceptual understanding of natural products as drugs has been augmented with chapters/notes on extractions, biosynthetic pathways and technologies for elucidations of biosynthetic pathways. The second part of the book contains category wise details of the crude drugs containing Carbohydrates, Glycosides, Tannins, Volatile Oils, Resins, Alkaloids, Enzymes, Minerals, and Natural fibers. The chapter on essential oils has been thoroughly modified and updated with description of a large number of essential oil containing drugs. A new chapter on Fixed oils, Fats and Waxes dealing extensively with chemistry, classification, isolation and standardisation of various crude drugs has also been added.