DRUG DISCOVERY RESEARCH IN PHARMACOGNOSY Edited by Omboon Vallisuta and Suleiman M. Olimat Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy Edited by Omboon Vallisuta and Suleiman M. Olimat Published by InTech Janeza Trdine 9, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia Copyright © 2012 InTech All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published by InTech, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. 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Publishing Process Manager Sandra Bakic Technical Editor Teodora Smiljanic Cover Designer InTech Design Team First published March, 2012 Printed in Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from orders@intechopen.com Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy, Edited by Omboon Vallisuta and Suleiman M. Olimat p. cm. ISBN 978-953-51-0213-7 Contents Preface IX Chapter 1 Ayurveda the Ancient Science of Healing: An Insight 1 Manoj Goyal, D. Sasmal and B.P. Nagori Chapter 2 Developments in Phytochemistry 11 Moronkola Dorcas Olufunke Chapter 3 Analytical Evaluation of Herbal Drugs 23 Anjoo Kamboj Chapter 4 Standardized Cannabis and Pain Management 61 A. Paul Hornby Chapter 5 The Research of Lygodium 77 Zhang Guo-Gang, He Ying-Cui, Liu Hong-Xia, Zhu Lin-Xia and Chen Li-Juan Chapter 6 Natural Alkamides: Pharmacology, Chemistry and Distribution 107 María Yolanda Rios Chapter 7 A Comparison Between Lignans from Creosote Bush and Flaxseed and Their Potential to Inhibit Cytochrome P450 Enzyme Activity 145 Jennifer Billinsky, Katherine Maloney, Ed Krol and Jane Alcorn Chapter 8 Potential Applications of Euphorbia hirta in Pharmacology 165 Mei Fen Shih and Jong Yuh Cherng Chapter 9 Medicinal and Edible Plants as Cancer Preventive Agents 181 Ken Yasukawa VI Contents Chapter 10 Induction and Activation of Plant Secondary Metabolism by External Stimuli 209 Fumiya Kurosaki Chapter 11 The Metabolites of Food Microorganisms 227 Hirofumi Takigawa and Yusuke Shibuya Preface Pharmacognosy is an interdisciplinary study, drawing from a broad spectrum of biological and even socio-scientific subjects. Even though most of the pharmacognostic studies are focused on medicinal plants / herbal medicines, other organisms are regarded pharmacognostically interesting. Particularly this is true for different types of microbes, i.e. bacteria and fungi. More recently, many marine organisms have become targets of pharmacognostic studies. The subject deals with natural drugs from plants, animals or minerals and even microorganisms. Therefore the scope of research is extremely wide ranging from traditional medicine to modern biotechnology with phytochemistry and analytical chemistry, which play an important part in the quality assurance of the raw material and their finished products. This book provides a full picture of research in the area of pharmacognosy with the goal of drug discovery from natural products based on the traditional knowledge or practices. Several plants that have been used as food show their potential as chemopreventive agents and the claims of many medicinal plants used in traditional medicine are now supported by scientific studies. Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy is a promising road map which will help us find medicine for all! Dr. Omboon Vallisuta Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand Dr. Suleiman M. Olimat Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan [...]... comparable with allopathic medicine by the government of India In India, Ayurveda has a complete infrastructure, medical colleges, hospitals integrated with allopathic medicine, research institutes, and scientific journals devoted to Ayurveda In addition, India’s Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry is governed by the same food and drug laws that regulate conventional drugs Research in pharmacology, biochemistry,... Morphine &Papaverine alkaloids Tannins, Saponins Sterols, Saponins 4 Antibiotic 5 Antioxidant 6 7 Anti-inflammatory Antimalaria 8 9 Antidepressant Anti-tumor 10 Stimulant Nicotine & Caffein Alkaloids 11 Antiviral Ginseng & Saikosaponins 12 Antihypertensive Reserpine, Flavonoids, 13 14 Tranquilizer Aphrodiasic Schizandrins Steroids Macrolides, Penicillin, Tetracyclines, Cephalosporin, Gentamycins Flavonoids... different countries in different parts of 8 Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy the globe after giving due consideration to the culture, life style and available medicinal plant resources of the countries Name of Category Meaning in English Name of Category Meaning in English Angamardaprasamana Pain relieving Purisa-virajaniya Faecal depigmenter Anuvasanopaga Unctuous enemata Sandhaniya Healing Arsoghna... Studies and researches into medicinal constituents of plants, involve qualitative and quantitative analyses There is rationale behind each experimental work involving definite steps and processes; having in mind properties of compounds analyzed in conjunction with procedures utilized Also our desired active metabolite to be isolated and studied as interested lead compound, many times is in very complex... authority) and anumana (inference) The most clinically useful is direct perception and it includes Susruta’s threefold methods of diagnosis trividha pariksa that includes sparsana (palpation), darsana (looking), and prasana (questioning) Caraka has mentioned that direct perception (pratyaksa) includes using the five senses meaning that listening, feeling, looking, smelling and tasting Later on it became... parts, animal parts and minerals, are used as medicines, either alone or in combination In addition, various other measures are used in an attempt to maintain health in a healthy person and alleviate disorders of the body and mind These substances act on the principles of samanya (homologous) and visesha (antagonistic) action Substances possessing homologous properties and actions increase the relevant... metabolite sources and origin Natural products are in restricted taxonomic groups and species of organisms They are from secondary metabolic processes and express individualities of organisms These are the areas of interest in phytochemistry and pharmacognosy We will be examining the underlining principles behind formation, production and generation of natural products syntheses in plants Primary metabolites... useful in disorders of the neck, shoulders, ears, nose, mouth, head, cranium, and scapula Raktamokshana (Blood-letting): The small amount of blood is removed intravenously or by leeches, the toxins are removed quickly from systemic circulation It is useful in blood toxaemia, hypertension and skin disorders Raktamokshana is contraindicated in anemia and pregnancy 6 Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy. .. the interactions is called Taoism It is believed and proposed that plants have spirits 11 References [1] Hamburger M and Hostettman K., 1991 Bioactivity in plants: The link between phytochemistry and medicine Phytochemistry 30, 3864-3874 22 Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy [2] Mendonca-Filho, 2006 Bioactive phytocompounds: New approaches in the Phytosciences In: Modern phytomedicine- Turning... other substances which is either free from or inferior in therapeutic and chemical properties or addition of low grade or spoiled drugs or entirely different drug similar to that of original drug substituted with an intention of enhancement of profits Or adulteration may be defined as mixing or substituting the original drug material with other spurious, inferior, defective, spoiled, useless other parts . many medicinal plants used in traditional medicine are now supported by scientific studies. Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy is a promising road map which will help us find medicine for. DRUG DISCOVERY RESEARCH IN PHARMACOGNOSY Edited by Omboon Vallisuta and Suleiman M. Olimat Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy Edited. Croatia A free online edition of this book is available at www.intechopen.com Additional hard copies can be obtained from orders@intechopen.com Drug Discovery Research in Pharmacognosy, Edited