In the twenty-first century Pharmacognosy was transformed into a molecular science building on classic botanical and modern chemical knowledge, leading to a better understanding of the complex molecular effect - structure relationships and interactions required for the development of new drugs based on biologically active plant substances.The work demonstrates the place of phytotherapy in healing, the role of herbs in complementary and traditional therapy, and research strategies for the development of drugs of natural plant origin.This book is primarily designed for scientific researchers, but is also very useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students in their professional training. As this book discusses herbs from all over the world, it is specifically drafted to be useful not only in Hungary and Europe, but also for people in other continents as an English language encyclopaedia of medicinal plants and their biologically active compounds.
About the Author: Dr. Éva Franciska Szőke, Professor emerita, teaches and conducts research in the Institute of Pharmacognosy of Semmelweis University, Budapest. She was director of the Institute from 1996-2009 and chairwoman of the Doctoral (PhD) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2000-2014. In recognition of her many decades of scientific work she was rewarded a Gold Seal Ring by Semmelweis University in 2009. Scientific titles: Degree in biology and chemistry from Eötvös Loránd Univers-ity, Budapest (1968), University doctor's degree in natural sciences (1973), Ph.D. in biological sciences (1978), Dr. pharm. habil. in the field of pharmacognosy (1993), D.Sc. in biology from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2000).Dr. Szöke's work in education has led to improvements in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, particularly the development of new curricula for pharmacognosy and pharmaceutical biotechnology, taking into consideration the European harmonisation. She has been an invited lecturer at many foreign universities (e.g. Alexandria, Heidelberg, Jena, Petersburg, Padua, Tanta). Her research activities have focussed on optimising the formation of pharmacologically active compounds of natural origin by influencing gene functioning or via gene transformation. Special mention should be made of research grants financed by the European Union. Her results have appeared in 500 papers, conference proceedings and book chapters published by international publishers (e.g. Springer, Harwood). She has also edited eight scientific books. Éva Szöke is a member of the editorial boards of numerous international journals and of several scientific committees. Her achievements have also been recognised by the award of the Greguss and Augustin Memorial Medals, the title of Outstanding Ph.D. Tutor and the Master Teacher Gold Medal.