Medicinal Applications of Phytopharmaceuticals

This book is devoted to phytopharmaceuticals and their role in managing human disorders. It also covers the biological role of herbal drugs and the latest research developments in herbal medicine. Divided into five parts, the book starts with a global perspective on phytopharmaceuticals providing insights into the lessons from the past to the future, followed by an overview of Ayurveda medicine, and the main isolation and extraction techniques of plant material. Parts 2 and 3 present the latest research on natural products and phytopharmaceuticals, in which the authors cover the current clinical research status on formulations containing medicinal plants, and an overview of nanomedicines. Particular attention is given to potential and current therapeutic applications of phytopharmaceuticals, including their role in the management of COVID-19, neurological disorders, and cancer therapy. Part 4 focuses on the biomedical applications of phytochemical-based formulations, and Part 5 outlines the role and benefits of nutraceuticals in human health. The final chapter of this book provides an overview of the main toxicity and regulatory aspects of herbal medicines. Collating the latest advances in phytopharmaceuticals and natural product drug discovery with a perspective on Ayurveda therapies, this book has broad appeal from scholars, and researchers to professionals interested in plant-based drug development and phytochemistry.

Dr. Menka Khoobchandani is a Research Associate at Loma Linda University, California, USA. She previously served as a staff scientist at the Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, and as a Research Scientist and lab manager at the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. Currently, her focus lies in advancing Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for the treatment of brain GBM tumors. Her research integrates safe natural therapeutics with nanomaterials. With over 12 years of experience spanning academia and industry in the medical and healthcare sectors, Dr. Khoobchandani earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Dayalbagh Educational Institute, India, and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, USA. Her interdisciplinary research interests encompass nanomedicine, cancer biology, drug discovery, and material sciences. Dr. Khoobchandani has a profound interest in harnessing the potential of herbs and Ayurvedic remedies. Her overarching goal is to foster an innovative research ecosystem aimed at developing safe therapeutic modalities to address unmet clinical needs. Through establishing global collaborative partnerships with professors and clinicians across universities and hospitals, she has facilitated joint projects, patents, and publications.

Dr. Subhajit Ghosh is an immunologist and works as a research scientist at the NCI-designated Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma University, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. After obtaining his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India, he joined as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Washington University, School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Dr. Ghosh has more than 10 years of research experience in drug development, phytopharmaceuticals, cancer immunology, and immunotherapy. He has experience in drug repurposing, particularly when looking for immunostimulators using libraries of natural compounds/ phytochemicals. Currently, his research focuses on understanding the crosstalk between regulatory myeloid cells and cancer stem cells and improving strategies to treat glioblastoma.