Recent Trends In Biotechnology And Therapeutic Applications Of Medicinal Plants

Mohammed Shahid

The necessity of safe and cost effective medication especially for under developed and developing regions of the world together with emergence of new chronic and drug resistant diseases have prompted scientists to look towards medicinal plants as agents for treatment and prevention. This book provides an overview of advances and recent trends in medicinal plant sciences along with biotechnological interventions that has made it increasingly feasible to exploit these natural resources and transform traditional medicines into modern drugs. The book starts with a chapter discussing different types of phytoactive compounds which are the elementary substances behind medicinal action of plant extracts. Thereafter different biotechnological tools and techniques like bioreactors, hairy root culture and elicitation which are utilized to enhance and tap these valuable compounds at commercial...