Recent Progress In Medicinal Plants (Analytical And Processing Techniques)

About 80% of the population of many developing countries still use traditional medicines for their health care. These are still produced using age old methods which can affect their quality, stability and efficacy. The study of secondary metabolites, nucleus of medicinal plants, involves many steps like extractions from raw material, purification of extract to remove unwanted material/ compound and separation by thin layer chromatography. Analysis and quantification of isolated products, its chemical constituents and physico-chemical properties are also determined. This volume describes the possibilities of value addition, processing techniques to extract target compounds from given residues and latest analytical methods based on cutting-edge technology for identifying the components then performing individual separation, if required. Simple and complex methods and their scope are discussed together with examples of their use in order to show the field of application, its advantage and limitations of them and opening a door to their correct use and possibility of innovating for a better achievement. Simultaneously, since the control of quality of the raw materials, finished products and of process in herbal medicine is an absolute necessity, an attempt has also been made to enlighten stake holders on the dire need to establish quality standards at each and every stage. The importance of this volume in medicinal herbs industry and in chemical analysis laboratories worldwide has been indicated by describing faster, less toxic and more environmentally sustainable analytical and processing technologies. This special volume contains 25 chapters authored by 82 contributors, spread over 13 countries across the globe i.e., Austria, Canada, China, Cyprus, India, Japan, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, UAE and USA have been designed for professionals of interdisciplinary health sciences, food technology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, agriculture, botany, medicine, therapeutics, traditional medicine, complementary and alternative medicine, aromatherapy, herbalism, medical and public health sciences, health care professionals of other various disciplines, policy-makers and marketing and economic strategists. It is addressed to undergraduate, post-graduates, teachers and researchers.