1st Edition

Medicinal Plants of China, Korea, and Japan Bioresources for Tomorrow’s Drugs and Cosmetics

By Christophe Wiart Copyright 2012
    454 Pages 8 Color & 456 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Asian medicinal plants show great promise in pharmaceutical and cosmetological development. Researchers engaged in the discovery of new leads in these areas need robust conceptual tools and understanding of interrelated basics of botany, ethnobotany, biomolecular pharmacology, phytochemistry, and medicinal chemistry to guide their investigations. Medicinal Plants of China, Korea, and Japan: Bioresources for Tomorrow’s Drugs and Cosmetics explores the fundamental science and demonstrates the compelling potential of these versatile plants, providing an essential resource to stimulate and guide focused inquiry.

    It is essential that researchers appreciate the chemotaxonomical statuses of these plants, so chapters are arranged according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system of plant taxonomy. The book discusses the history, synonymy, habitat, description, traditional uses, and pharmacochemistry of each plant. Detailed photographs and hand-made botanical plates enable quick and reliable identification of each plant species. Critical analyses of peer-reviewed articles provide the basis for Bioresource sections in each chapter wherein readers are advised, engaged, and guided towards exciting pharmaceutical and cosmetological research proposals. Also included are indexes of botanical terms, pharmacological terms, natural products, and local names.

    Detailing 200 medicinal plant species carefully selected for their novelty and pharmacological and cosmetological importance, this volume provides a firm starting point for anyone looking forward to unlocking the potential of Asian medicinal plants. In addition, this invaluable book identifies numerous patentable leads.

    Superorder Austrobaileyanae Doweld ex M.W. Chase & Reveal, 2009
    Order Austrobaileyales Takht. ex Reveal, 1992
    Family Schisandraceae Blume, 1830, nom. cons., the Schisandra Family
    Superorder Magnolianae Takht., 1967
    Order Piperales Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Saururaceae E.F.Voigt (in L.C.M. Richard, 1811), nom. cons., the Lizard’s-tail Family
    Order Laurales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Calycanthaceae Lindl., 1819, nom. cons., the Strawberry Shrub Family
    Family Hernandiaceae Blume, 1826, nom. cons., the Hernandia Family
    Superorder Lilianae Takht., 1967
    Commelinids
    Order Commelinales Mirb. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Order Zingiberales Griseb., 1854
    Order Poales Small, 1903

    Non-Commelinids
    Order Asparagales Link, 1829
    Order Liliales Perleb, 1826
    Order Alismatales R.Br. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820

    Superorder Ranunculanae Takht. ex Reveal, 1992
    Order Ranunculales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Ranunculaceae Juss., 1789, nom. cons., the Buttercup Family
    Family Lardizabalaceae R.Br., 1821, nom. cons., the Lardizabala Family

    Superorder Rosanae Takht., 1967
    Eurosids I
    Order Celastrales Link, 1829
    Order Fagales Engl., 1892
    Eurosids II
    Order Myrtales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Order Brassicales Bromhead, 1838
    Superorder Saxifraganae Reveal, 1994
    Order Saxifragales Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Haloragaceae R.Br. (in M. Flinders, 1814), nom. cons., the Water Milfoil Family
    Superorder Santalanae Thorne ex Reveal, 1992
    Order Santalales R.Br. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Loranthaceae Juss., 1808, nom. cons., the Showy Mistletoe Family
    Superorder Caryophyllanae Takht., 1967
    Order Caryophyllales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Caryophyllaceae Juss., 1789, nom. cons., the Pink Family
    Family Droseraceae Salisb., 1808, nom. cons., the Sundew Family
    Superorder Asteranae Takht., 1967
    Order Ericales Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Family Primulaceae Batsch ex. Borkh., 1797, nom. cons., the Primrose Family
    Euasterids I
    Order Garryales Mart., 1835
    Order Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Order Lamiales Bromhead, 1838
    Order Solanales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820
    Euasterids II
    Order Asterales Link, 1829
    Order Apiales Nakai, 1930
    Order Dipsacales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl., 1820
    Index

    Biography

    Dr. Christophe Wiart has been studying the medicinal plants of China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India for the last 16 years. He has collected, identified, and classified several hundred species of medicinal plants and is regarded as the most prominent authority in the field of Asian ethnopharmacology, chemotaxonomy, and ethnobotany. He is based in the School of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Nottingham and has authored numerous best-selling reference books on the medicinal plants of Asia.