Pharmacognostic properties of medicinal plants

Natural products are known to play an important role in Pharmaceutical biology. Plants have been an important source of medicine for thousands of years. Even today the World Health Organization estimates that up to 80 percent of people still rely mainly on traditional medicines. In fact many of the current drugs either mimic naturally occurring molecules or have structures that are fully or in part derived from natural motifs. Natural antimicrobials can be derived from various parts of the plant. The essential oil obtained from Ocimum sp contains various antimicrobial properties. Many Ficus species are commonly used in traditional medicine to cure various diseases. Cissus quadrangularis has been reported to include antioxidant activity. Bitter melon stimulate digestive function and improve appetite. The bio active compounds of Aloe vera are effective in treating stomach ailments gastrointestinal problems. The leaf extracts of Achyranthus aspera were reported to posses thyroid stimulating antiperoxidative and antifungal activity. This book focus on the bioactive potentials phytochemical pharmacological and traditional properties of medicinally important natural plants.