Biomedical ScienceChinese herbal medicine represents complementary or adjunctive therapies that often can improve the efficacy of Western medicine to achieve the pharmacological effects, especially in cancer treatment. However, the combination of herbs with therapeutic drugs can raise potential health risk. Building a bridge between Western medicin

This book is the first volume of a comprehensive 2-volume book covering modern pharmacological and clinical studies of the most commonly used Chinese herbal drugs. It contains monographs of 250 kinds of the most commonly used Chinese Materia Medica. The information on each herb was compiled by a research specialist active in the scientific investigation of that particular type of herb. The description on each drug includes an introduction (source, character and taste, actions and indications according to traditional Chinese medicine etc.), chemical composition, pharmacology, clinical studies, adverse effects and references. The translation of the book into English was done by qualified professionals in the field and the terms used are consistent with those used in Index Medicus, Chemical Abstracts and Botanical journals.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states has caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular ef

SARS is a newly identified human infection caused by a corona virus unlike any other known human or animal virus in its family. The analysis of epidemiological information obtained from the sites of the outbreaks of SARS is still underway but the overall case fatality ratio is known to approach 11% although the rate among the elderly is much higher. Currently the major challenges for the treatment of SARS are: the source of the SARS virus and mode of transmission are still not well understood; there are problems with diagnostic tools; there is no effective treatment; and there is no vaccine for SARS. The above-mentioned difficulties and challenges have motivated national authorities health workers and scientists to explore the potential of complementary treatment. The results of research on integrated treatment with TCM and Western medicine showed that it is safe and that it also has some potential clinical benefits. Therefore the experts suggested that records of such experience could serve as reference material for treatment of SARS in the future. This publication is intended to share experience in the complementary treatment of SARS patients; share the experience of clinical studies in the field of traditional medicine for treatment of SARS between the physicians and researchers; and to further encourage and promote the quality of research in the filed of traditional medicine.

Phytonanotechnology: Challenges and Prospects consolidates information on the use of phytonanoparticles for biomedical, environmental and agricultural applications, covering recent advances in experimental and theoretical studies on various properties of nanoparticles derived from plant sources. The book deals with various attributes of phytonanoparticles, discussing their current and potential applications. In addition, it explores the development of phytonanoparticles, synthesis techniques, characterization techniques, environmental remediation applications, anti-microbial properties, miscellaneous applications, and multi-functional applications. Risks associated with nanoparticles are also discussed. This book is an important reference for materials scientists, engineers, environmental scientists, food scientists and biomedical scientists who want to learn more about the applications of nanoparticles derived from plant sources. - Explores synthesis methods of phytonanoparticles from a variety of plant groups - Discusses the major biological reactions of phytonanoparticles - Outlines the major opportunities and challenges of using phytonanoparticles in biomedical, environmental and agricultural applications

Drug Discovery and Evaluation has become a more and more difficult, expensive and time-consuming process. The effect of a new compound has to be detected by in vitro and in vivo methods of pharmacology. The activity spectrum and the potency compared to existing drugs have to be determined. As these processes can be divided up stepwise we have designed a book series "Drug Discovery and Evaluation" in the form of a recommendation document. The methods to detect drug targets are described in the first volume of this series "Pharmacological Assays" comprising classical methods as well as new technologies. Before going to man, the most suitable compound has to be selected by pharmacokinetic studies and experiments in toxicology. These preclinical methods are described in the second volume „Safety and Pharmacokinetic Assays". Only then are first studies in human beings allowed. Special rules are established for Phase I studies. Clinical pharmacokinetics are performed in parallel with human studies on tolerability and therapeutic effects. Special studies according to various populations and different therapeutic indications are necessary. These items are covered in the third volume: „Methods in Clinical Pharmacology".

This work presents up-to-date information on chemical, pharmacological, clinical studies and historical uses of common dietary Chinese herbs. Authored by native experts in the field, the reader is introduced to each herb with a brief chronological review of Chinese literature on dietary herb uses, with chapters dedicated to each selected herb including color photos for each herb. In addition, Chinese characters as well as the Latin botanical name indices, and chemical structures for the known active compounds are also provided. The clear layout examines the health benefits that have been studied for centuries, including current clinical and toxicological data. A wide range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbs are investigated for their suitability into daily diets for maintaining general wellness or disease prevention. In the past decades, natural health products, dietary supplements, functional foods, or nutraceuticals have emerged in the West due to the increasing demand for non-pharmaceutical healthcare products. Traditional Chinese Medicine disease prevention and treatment incorporates the use of foods, and herbal medicine in an integrated manner, and thus the dietary Chinese herbs in used in TCM for thousands of years could be sources for developing new, effective, and safe ingredients to capture the rapidly expanding opportunity in the global market place.

This book introduces “network pharmacology” as an emerging frontier subject of systematic drug research in the era of artificial intelligence and big data. Network Pharmacology is an original subject of fusion system biology, bioinformatics, network science and other related disciplines. It emphasizes on starting from the overall perspective of the system level and biological networks, the analysis of the laws of molecular association between drugs and their treatment objects, reveals the systematic pharmacological mechanisms of drugs, and guides the research and development of new drugs and clinical diagnosis and treatment. After it was proposed, network pharmacology has been paid attention by researchers, and it has been rapidly developed and widely used. In order to systematically reveal the biological basis of diagnosis and treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and modern medicine, we proposed a new concept of "network target" for the first time, which has become the core theory of "network pharmacology". The core principle of a network target is to construct a biological network that can be used to decipher complex diseases. The network is then used as the therapeutic target, to which multicomponent remedies are applied. This book mainly includes four parts: 1) The concept and theory of network pharmacology; 2) Common analysis methods, databases and software in network pharmacological research; 3) Typical cases of traditional Chinese medicine modernization and modern drug research based on network pharmacology; 4) Network pharmacology practice process based on drugs and diseases.

Records cataloging the healing powers of natural substances - plants, minerals, and animal byproducts - date back more than 4,000 years. There is no denying the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine, yet - until recently - the roots of this knowledge were largely lost in superstition and folklore. However, the use of herbs as an alternative medical treatment for many illnesses has increased steadily over the last decade, particularly since such herbs are categorized as "Natural Food Products" and are not yet subject to strict control by the FDA. Reports published in 1996 indicate that more than 10% of the US population has used herbal remedies. This book does not debate the value of Eastern or Western medicine but brings together Chinese herbal lore and Western scientific methods in a current, comprehensive treatise on the pharmacology of Chinese herbs. This second edition of The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs presents the chemical composition, pharmacological action, toxicity, and therapeutic value of 473 herbs. The book: Classifies herbs according to their therapeutic value Informs how active ingredients in herbs may adversely interact with other herbs or drugs Evaluates which herbs have the potential for more investigation and possible use as drugs Describes the pharmacological action of each herb based on recent scientific study and describes each herb according to Chinese pharmacopoeia and folk medicine Provides a review of Chinese medical history Presents information on how to use modern chemical techniques for enhancing or modifying herbal ingredients into better agents with more strength and activity What's New in the Second Edition Discussions on: Herbs and their specific effects on the immune system Herbs and fertility/infertility Anti-cancer herbs Anti-HIV herbs Anti-malarial herbs Ginseng and ginsenosides Anti-Alzheimer herbs Herbs affecting the nervous system

This volume, one in a series on medicinal plants in Member States of WHO's Western Pacific Region, introduces Mongolian traditional medicine and details the nature and uses of medicinal plants found in the country. The book focuses on the medicinal plants used most commonly in Mongolia. Each monograph contains color pictures of the plant and a wide array of information--from the scientific and English names of plants to their microscopic characteristics. While helping record and document traditional medicine practices, this book contributes to the understanding of the value of medicinal plants in Mongolia and increases the evidence base for the safe and efficacious use of herbs in health care.