The Theme on “Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy” is a component of Encyclopedia of Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.
This section deals, in two volumes, with the study of natural products and their application in the improvement of health. Pharmacognosy is the study of plants of medicinal importance while phytochemistry is the study of the chemical components in the plants, their chemical tests, specific pathways that something is made by plants. It is the combination of such activities that can be broadly categorized with respect to the associated disciplines of natural product chemistry and pharmacognosy. The scope of pharmacognosy has expanded from the traditional morphological description of plants and other organisms, to encompass the most modern aspects of molecular science relating to the exploration of naturally occurring bioactive compounds, their mode of action and, ultimately, their application in all economic and social activities. This theme is organized into several different topics: Phytochemistry And Pharmacognosy; Ethnobotany Of Natural Products; Occurrence And Function Of Natural Products in Plants Alkaloids And Their Biosynthesis; Plant Terpenes; Natural Products From Marine Microorganisms ;Natural Products From Bacteria And Fungi; Natural Products With Antimalarial Activity; Cancer Chemoprevention; Natural Products As Sources Of Antitumor Agents; Microbial Transformations Of Natural Products; Natural Products From Plants As Insecticides; The Origin Of Pharmaceuticals; Natural Products As Sources Of Spices, Dyes And Cosmetics; Medicinal Plants And Phytomedicines.
The two volumes on the subject are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.