Natural products particularly microbial and plant products in their native form have been associated with mankind since ancient times. Natural products offer a vast, virtually untapped reservoir of chemical compounds with many potential uses. Apart from drugs, they can also be used as lead compounds, dietary supplements and personal care items.

The present volume of the book series entitled, "Natural Products: Research Reviews" is a critical review book which stimulates progress in all areas of natural products research. The book gives an excellent overview of the current trends in natural product research. This is an interesting and authoritative volume as a collection of monographic chapters on specific problems regarding natural products for maintenance of health as well as in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Each chapter contains in depth account of the materials covered involving mainly the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products as well as the use of new tools for purity evaluation. It presents current frontiers and future guidelines for research based on important discoveries made in the field of natural products and present 12 review chapters from eminent scientists in India and abroad.