Nature endows us with a treasure chest of Green Gold full of amazing ‘redox-active’ substances which interfere with numerous biological processes in our own body, in animals, bacteria, fungi and plants. Whilst such natural products are all around and also in us, we still do not fully understand how these compounds actually work. This book attempts to resolve some of the mysteries and riddles associated with such products. Written by more than thirty international experts from academia and industry, it places a focus on modern developments in this field and considers such natural products from various angles, from their isolation and characterization all along to product development and commercialization. Throughout, the reader will be confronted with modern approaches which enable the efficient identification and isolation of new natural products, help to elucidate their mode(s) of action and permit practical uses in Medicine, Cosmetics, Agriculture, Industry and as functional foods.

This book introduces the new concept of “nanozyme”, which refers to nanomaterials with intrinsic enzymatic activity, rather than nanomaterials with biological enzymes incorporated on the surface. The book presents the cutting-edge advances in nanozyme, with emphasis on state-of-the-art applications in many important fields, such as in the biomedical fields and for environmental protection. The nanozyme is a totally new type of artificial enzyme and exhibits huge advantages over natural enzymes, including greater stability, low cost, versatility, simplicity, and suitability for industry. It is of interest to university researchers, R&D engineers, as well as graduate students in nanoscience and technology, and biology wishing to learn the core principles, methods, and the corresponding applications of “nanozyme”.

This book reviews the application of nanosensors in food and agriculture. Nanotechnology has the potential to become transformative technology that will impact almost all sectors. Tools like nanosensors, which detect specific molecular interactions, can be used for on-site, in-situ and online measurements of various parameters in clinical diagnostics, environmental and food monitoring, and quality control. Due to their unprecedented performance and sensitivity, nanobiosensors are gaining importance in precision farming. The book examines the use of nanobiosensors in the monitoring of food additives, toxins and mycotoxins, microbial contamination, food allergens, nutritional constituents, pesticides, environmental parameters, plant diseases and genetically modified organisms. It also discusses the role of biosensors in increasing crop productivity in sustainable agriculture, and nanosensor-based smart delivery systems to optimize the use of natural resources such as water, nutrients and agrochemicals in precision farming.

Discussing all aspects connected with the scientific analysis of Rhipicephalus microplus, this book covers tick classification and identification, as well as methods of extracting natural products effective against ticks. It also describes tick cell culture procedures, tick acaricide-resistance diagnostics, and the identification of tick parasites and microorganisms from the host and the ticks’ fluids, as well as the diagnosis of Babesia and Anaplasma in R. microplus.

Cancer is one of the leading death cause of human population increasingly seen in recent times. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since immemorial times. Though, several synthetic medicines are useful in treating cancer, they are inefficient and unsafe. However, plants have proved to be useful in cancer cure. Moreover, natural compounds from plants and their derivatives are safe and effective in treatment and management of several cancer types. The anticancer plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their significance in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases. Nowadays, several well-known anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants. Many of them are used effectively to combat cancer and other related diseases. The herbal medicine and their products are the most suitable and safe to be used as an alternative medicine. Based on their traditional uses and experimental evidences, the anticancer products or compounds are isolated or extracted from the medicinally important plants. Many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless harvesting in nature. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them in large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology can be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without cultivation. The proper knowledge and exploration of these isolated molecules or products could provide an alternative source to reduce cancer risk, anti-tumorigenic properties, and suppression of carcinogen activities. Anticancer plants: Volume 1, Properties and Application is a very timely effort in this direction. Discussing the various types of anticancer plants as a source of curative agent, their pharmacological and neutraceutical properties, cryo-preservations and recent trends to understand the basic cause and consequences involved in the diseases diagnosis. We acknowledge the publisher, Springer for their continuous inspiration and valuable suggestions to improvise the content of this book. We further extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our book contributors for their support, and assistance to complete this assignment. I am sure that these books will benefit the scientific communities including academics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and medical practitioners.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. Medicinal Plants and Cancer Chemoprevention provides information on the use of various herbal plants used as anticancer agents. It discusses the traditional system of medicine and focuses on plant-derived compounds for cancer therapy with integrated approaches. Chapters present information on various medicinal plants that covers background and history, ethnomedical considerations, morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties. The book presents a scientific investigation on medicinal plants in managing cancer, reported mechanisms of action as anticancer activity, as well as covering the toxicological aspects of certain plants. KEY FEATURES: · Details information on plant-derived compounds for cancer therapy. · Features information on methods of extraction and isolation of various phytoconstituents responsible for anticancer activity. · Discusses herbal formulations and alternative approaches used for the management and treatment of cancer. · Demonstrates the importance of alternative approaches including yoga, acupuncture, and dietary supplements to be effective in the management of cancer. This book is helpful to botanists, researchers and practitioners in alternative and complementary medicine, and the herbal medicine research community.

This Special Issue Book entitled "Lamiaceae Species: Biology, Ecology and Practical Uses" contributes to the knowledge of selected Lamiaceae species from several perspectives, such as diversity and phytogeography, taxonomy, ethnobotany, and quantitative and qualitative composition, as well as the biological activity of secondary metabolites.

Food colour additives have been the focus of much research in the last few years, and there is increasing consumer demand for natural and safer synthetic colours. This book reviews the natural and synthetic colours available, their properties and applications, as well as regulatory, sensory and analytical issues. Part one covers the development and safety of food colour additives. Part two covers properties and methods of analysis, and part three focuses on specific food product applications and future trends. - Reviews the natural and synthetic colour additives available for foods and beverages, looking at their properties and applications as well as regulatory, sensory and analytical issues - Expert analysis of natural origin colours, synthetic origin colours, overview of regulations, safety analysis and consumer health - Comprehensive coverage of properties and development in food colours: chemical purity, colour stability, and consumer sensory perception