Introduction

The book "Advances in Ethnobotany" is an attempt to integrate research work of different practicing ethnobotanists across India from laboratories of repute. This book is divided into three sections.

First Section

In the first section, ethnobotanical works of Veligonda, Shivalik hills, and some other research works of North eastern states are described. A chapter is dedicated to research methodology in ethnobotany. Another chapter describes ethnobotany of Orchidaceae.

Second Section

The second section deals with pharmacological activities of Cyperus rotundus, bioactive metabolites from plant-associated endophytic fungi, berries: source of natural antioxidant, phytochemistry of Murraya Koenigii, and several other herbal drugs explained in a very lucid manner.

Third Section

The third section focuses on utilization and conservation of plants, including medicinal and economic importance of Rhododendron in Sikkim Himalaya, an efficient micropropagation protocol for Melissa officinalis, utilization of plant biodiversity for treatment and cure of diseases, and many other relevant topics discussed in length.

Target Audience and Purpose

This book will be very helpful for postgraduate students, researchers, scientists, and doctors working in the field of Indian System of Medicine, as well as for academicians working in Medical Botany, Herbal Technology, and Ethnobotany, along with other branches of life sciences. It will also be equally useful for students of pharmacognosy, pharmacology, environmentalists, and conservationists.

The editor has organized the book to be useful to everyone interested in medicinal botany, pharmacy, ethno-medicine, ethnobotany, herbal therapy, naturopathy, and green health therapy.