This new book, Essentials of Herbal Drugs, is a comprehensive guide to understanding the fundamental aspects of herbal drugs and their significance in modern healthcare, offering a valuable resource on the rich history, quality control measures, cultivation practices, metabolic pathways, extraction techniques, regulatory considerations, and future trends of herbal medicines. The book details the role of traditional healing practices since time immemorial, discussing the diverse forms and therapeutic benefits of herbs. Important topics on the use of herbal drugs in modern times are also discussed, including quality control of herbal drugs and standardization, proper methods of cultivation, extraction and assessment, isolation, identification and analysis of phytoconstituents, and understanding the metabolic pathways of plants. The book also looks at nutraceuticals and their regulatory requirements and challenges. It also observes the biological screening, toxicity testing, and regulations of herbal drugs. Future prospects of herbal drugs including pharmacovigilance of natural products, and phyto-pharmaceutical research, highlighting emerging opportunities for drug discovery and the potential of natural compounds in healthcare. Essentials of Herbal Medicine will serve as a comprehensive resource for students, researchers, and practitioners interested in herbal drugs and their therapeutic applications.
