Synopsis Almost 65% of the world's population have incorporated traditional system of medicine in their primary modality of health care. Now the medicinal plant sector has gained both scientific and social support, the herbal industries are playing a major source of capitalization in both developed and developing countries.

The present book Drugs from Plants" contain 18 chapters covering information on medicinal plants and their utilization with special reference to the Indian scenario. Book cover chapters on : Medicinal lichens of India; Medicinal gymnosperms; phytoconstituents used in the treatment of epilepsy; spirulina against rheumatoid arthritis and bioactive medicinal plants of alpine and sub-alpine zones. Separate chapter on important medicinal plants included are on: Andrographis Paniculata, Glycyrrhiza Glabra, pomegranate, Ocimum sanctum, Ipomoea Carnea and Bacopa Monnieri.

Articles on basic concept and methodology of herbal resource technology; role of tissue culture techniques in conservation of ethnobotanically important flora; pharmacodynamics and toxicity of some medicinal plants; mycotoxins as herbal drug contaminants and advances in plant drug research in synergy with Ayurveda have added to the value of the book. This book also provides excellent glimpses of the rich ethnobotanical heritage of India.

This book provide adequate information on medicinal plants with special reference to ethnobotanical approaches. Book will be very useful for a variety of scholars--Ayurvedic and medical people, botanist, pharmacologist, phytochemist and conservationist.