Medicinal Spices and Vegetables from Africa: Therapeutic Potential against Metabolic, Inflammatory, Infectious and Systemic Diseases provides a detailed look at medicinal spices and vegetables that have proven safe-and-effective for consumption and the treatment of diseases, including infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It provides pharmacological evidence, such as the latest information related to efficacy and safety data, in vitro and in vivo studies, clinical trials, and more, to illustrate the use of these spices and vegetables as both palliative and alternative treatments with the goal of furthering research in this area to produce safer and more effective drugs. - Provides scientific evidence for the potential of medicinal spices and vegetables used in Africa to fight metabolic, inflammatory, and infectious diseases - Includes a review of the latest methods used to investigate the effects of medicinal plants in the treatment of disease - Offers an updated resource for students sand scientists in the fields of pharmaceutical science, pharmacognosy, complementary and alternative medicine, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biochemistry, and more

This report is the second in a series of three evaluating underexploited African plant resources that could help broaden and secure Africa's food supply. The volume describes the characteristics of 18 little-known indigenous African vegetables (including tubers and legumes) that have potential as food- and cash-crops but are typically overlooked by scientists and policymakers and in the world at large. The book assesses the potential of each vegetable to help overcome malnutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and create sustainable landcare in Africa. Each species is described in a separate chapter, based on information gathered from and verified by a pool of experts throughout the world. Volume I describes African grains and Volume III African fruits.

African Plant-Based Products as a Source of Potent Drugs to Overcome Cancers and their Chemoresistance: Part Two: Potent Botanicals to Overcome Cancers and their Chemoresistance offers detailed information on the best African medicinal plants that could be useful for the development of efficient herbal drugs, as well as the best phytochemicals that could be explored as potential pharmaceuticals to efficiently overcome cancers and their drug resistance. The book identifies and comments on the best cytotoxic African medicinal plants. The book also provides knowledge on ethnomedicinal uses of the identified plants, their pharmacological potency, and their phytochemistry.An overview of the relationship between cancer and other human diseases healed in the traditional health system with the plants documented is also highlighted. The book appears a unique tool for Scientists to have state-of-the-art of the best cytotoxic plants from the African flora. - Provides a unique tool compiling the best of African plants with amazing potential toward various cancer cell lines, including the multidrug-resistant phenotypes - Discusses in highlights the geographic distribution of the best cytotoxic African plants - Compiles the ethnomedicinal, pharmacological, and phytochemistry information of the best antiproliferative African plants

Healing Plants of Nigeria: Ethnomedicine and Therapeutic Applications offers comprehensive information on the use of herbal medicines in West Africa. Combining an evidence-based, ethnobotanical perspective with a pharmacological and pharmaceutical approach to phytomedicine, the book bridges the gap between the study of herbal plants’ pharmacological properties and active compounds for the development of clinical drugs and community-oriented approaches, emphasising local use. It demonstrates how the framework of African traditional medicine can be preserved in a contemporary clinical context. The book outlines the history and beliefs surrounding the traditional use of herbs by the local population alongside their application in contemporary phytotherapy in Nigeria and West Africa. It features a critical assessment of the scientific rationale behind the use of these plants in ethnomedicine and offers a composite catalogue of phytotherapeutic and wellness agents, detailing the safety profile, efficacy, and scientific integrity of plants used to treat diseases and optimise health. Features: An ethnobotanical survey containing over 200 full-colour photographs of Nigerian and West African plants. A unique combination of ethnobotany and pharmacognosy, bridging the divide between pharmaceutical and community-oriented approaches to herbal medicine research. Contextual discussion of the therapeutic potential of Nigerian herbal medicine. Offers a template which can be used to separate the superstitious aspects of ethnomedicine from culturally inherited deposits of knowledge. A handbook for herbal and natural medicine practitioners, the book is aimed at African thinkers, scientists, healthcare providers and students of pharmacology and ethnomedicine.

Indian spices are known for their tremendous advantages, both as medicines as well as in cuisine. This two-volume book provides detailed information about the pharmacological and therapeutic benefits of traditional and exotic Indian spices grown on Indian soil and available across geographical boundaries. Volume 1 first provides an introduction to the history of use of spices in Indian culture and then goes on to discuss the influence of geographical location and climatic variation, processing conditions for extraction of active principles, medicinal uses, etc. It also explores the therapeutic properties and molecular mechanisms of Indian spices used as medicine in the treatment of cancer, inflammation, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, brain and cognitive function, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, bacterial infections, and other pathological conditions. The application of Indian spices in dairy products and beverages and modern herbal formulations of Indian spices, essential oils, and aromatic waters are also discussed. Volume 2 is titled Beneficial Health Effects of 20 Exotic Spices and focuses on individual spices and their uses in treating various diseases.

Spices are used in small quantities to add flavor, aroma, color, and texture in food preparation. However, spices and condiments have also been recognized as having medicinal value. They have been used traditionally as curative and preventive agents, the bioactive compounds obtained from these plants are used in herbal drug formulations in modern times. Medicinal Spice and Condiment Crops provides a comprehensive overview on the medicinal properties of spices and condiments with focus on various phytochemicals derived from them. KEY FEATURES: • Examines spices and condiments with respect to their biology, diversity, distribution, and pharmacological values. • Explores the scientific validations of the therapeutic potentials of spice and condiment plant species. • Discusses the bioactive agents involved in alleviating symptoms of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, ulcers, skin disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. • Explains specific medicinal features of spice and condiment-producing plant species inspiring research, discovery, and safe herbal drug formulation. A volume in the Exploring Medicinal Plants series, this book is useful for plant scientists, economic botanists, those who work with herbal and complementary medicine, as well as people working in the pharmaceutical industry.

African Flora to Fight Bacterial Resistance, Part One: Standards for the Activity of Plant-Derived Products offers a glimpse into the potential of African medicinal plants to fight bacterial infections, with an emphasis on bacterial drug resistance. Sample chapters cover the Global Burden of bacterial infections and drug resistance, Bacterial drug resistance towards natural products, Harvesting and Processing Medicinal plants for antibacterial testing, Screening methods for antibacterial agents from plant source, Established antibacterial drugs from plants, Potential of African medicinal plants against Enterobacteria: classification of plants antibacterial agents, and much more. Based on collected data, the book offers a rationale classification basis for the antibacterial activity of plant-based products. General knowledge of state-of-the-art of drug resistance is globally described, with the book clearly identifying the best African medicinal plants that could be useful for the development of efficient herbal drugs, as well as the best phytochemicals that could be explored as potential pharmaceuticals. - Provides the first book of its type to focus on the potential of African plants as alternative medicine against bacterial drug resistance - Analyzes the recorded data to propose a well-elaborated basis for the classification of antibacterial agents from plants - Clearly identifies and discusses plants and phytochemicals that could be useful in the development of new antibacterial drugs to combat drug resistance

Drying is a key operation in processing of many plant-based foods and medicines for the purpose of preservation and retention of key attributes and active compounds. Therefore, it is essential to select suitable drying techniques to ensure a product is processed under optimal operating conditions. Drying of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants presents processing aspects of these three major global agricultural commodities. It offers an insight into the drying and product quality of herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, such as drying characteristics, equipment selection, physiochemical analyses, quality improvement, product development, storage, and shelf life as well as future developments. Offers the latest information on drying and processing technologies, research, and development Summarizes various drying techniques, their advantages and limitations, industrial applications, and simple design methods Presents guidelines for dryer selection Links theory and practice Envisages future trends and demands Featuring chapters from expert authors in both industry and academia, this book is an important resource for those working in the chemical, food processing, pharma, and biotech industries, especially those focused on the drying of plants for food and medicinal applications.

"Let food be your medicine, medicine your food."-Hippocrates, 2400 B.C.When the "Father of Medicine" uttered those famous words, spices were as important for medicine, embalming, preserving food, and masking bad odors as they were for more mundane culinary matters. Author James A. Duke predicts that spices such as capsicum, cinnamon, garlic, ginger

A renowned chef and physician shares her secrets to a healthy life in this cookbook filled with healthy recipes that will fuel and energize your body and mind. "I like to think of a spicebox as the cook's equivalent of a doctor's bag--containing the essential tools to use in the art of cooking. Learning to use spices is the best way to add interest and vibrancy to simple home cooking."—from the Introduction In her first cookbook, chef and physician Linda Shiue puts the phrase "let food be thy medicine" to the test. With 175 vegetarian and pescatarian recipes curated from her own kitchen, Dr. Shiue takes you on a journey of vibrant, fresh flavors through a range of spices from amchar masala to za'atar. With a comprehensive "Healthy Cooking 101" chapter, lists of the healthiest ingredients out there, and tips for prevention, Spicebox Kitchen is a culinary wellness trip you can take in your own kitchen.