Medicinal flora plays an important role in health care systems across the world. Out of the half million flowering plants, around 50.000 species are valued for their therapeutic properties. During the last few decades, 20% of the world's population used plants and/or their derived products as a source of medicine. WHO stated that 80% population around the globe, specifically the rural communities, depend on medicinal plants for their basic healthcare needs. To this end, plant-based phytochemicals are known to have hepato-protective, anti-carcinogenic, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant actions. This book is a guide to 280 plant species of medicinal flora that demonstrates global relevance. Our goal is to share local knowledge about phytomedicines to a worldwide audience. It is an illustrated reference that documents and preserves the existing knowledge on these plant taxa, with a social and cultural (ethnobotanical) emphasis. This book also provides comprehensive and useful information about traditional uses of medicinal plants by the local communities for the treatment of various prevalent diseases. It contains comprehensive descriptions of each species including family, synonyms, English name, distribution, altitude, habitat, morphological description, life form, part used, mode of utilization, diseases category, recipes, other medicinal uses, phytochemical activity and toxicity.
About the Author: Dr. Khafsa Malik (Ph.D) is Assistant Professor at the Department of Botany in Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi-Pakistan. She is working on medicinal plants, plant biodiversity and plant biosystematics. Dr. Khfsa has published 28 research papers in international journals of repute and 2 chapters in the international books in the field of medicinal plant biodiversity. She has attended more than 29 national and international conferences and delivered lectures on medicinal plants. Dr. Khafsa Malik is collaborating with world reputed institutes involved in the research and development of natural products from medicinal plants.
Prof. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad (Ph.D.). Working in the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i- Azam University Islamabad, especially in Plant Systematics and Biodiversity, identifying wild plant resources as alternative sources for food, medicine, and biomass energy. He has published 605 research papers with high impact factor; 25 books and 17 book chapters. Dr. Mushtaq has been awarded many international and national awards including top 2% influential scientist of the World (2020); Young Research Scholar Award by HEC (2019); Highly Cited Research Paper Award by Elsevier and Willey (2019); Young scientist award by CAS - PIFI - China (2018), Young membership award by Pakistan Academy of Sciences, (2016); Productive scientist awards by PCST (2009 to date); TTS Performance based Awards (2010 to date); Post Doc. Fellowship by TWAS-Malaysia (2012); Best book award by HEC (2013); Best research paper award by HEC (2011); Gold Medal award by Pakistan Academy of Sciences (2011). He is member of many international and national academic bodies.
Prof. Dr. Münir Öztürk (Ph.D; D.Sc.) has served at the Ege University Izmir, Turkey for 50 years in different positions. He has been elected as the "Vice President of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences"; Foreign Fellow Pakistan Academy of Science; has received the fellowships from Alexander von Humboldt, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science and National Science Foundation of USA. Dr. Ozturk has served as Chairman Botany Department and Founding Director Centre for Environmental Studies, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, as Consultant Fellow, Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia and as Distinguished Visiting Scientist, ICCBS, Karachi University, Pakistan. His fields of scientific interest are Plant Eco-Physiology; Medicinal and Aromatic Plants; Conservation of Plant Diversity; Biosaline Agriculture and Crops; Pollution, and Biomonitoring. He has published 40 books, 50 book chapters and 175 papers in journal with impact factor.
Dr. Volkan ALTAY (Ph.D., D.Sc.) is a full Professor at the Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey. His fields of interest are; Plant Ecology, Vegetation Ecology, Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Biomonitoring and Pollution Ecology, and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plant Resources. He received his PhD. in 2009 and holds a proven track record of nearly 100 publications in highly reputed professional journals. He has also published 4 books with Springer; nearly 45 research articles in impact factor journals, more than 40 book chapters and reviews, more than 70 international and national congress reports.
Dr. Muhammad Zafar (PhD). Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. Well known researcher in the field of medicinal plants, plant biodiversity and renewable energy; founder of the first nutraceutical and traditional medicinal plants and biofuel/ biomass energy laboratories at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. Has produced 13 PhD, 49 M.Phil. research scholars. He has published 23 international books, chapters in the field of medicinal plant biodiversity and energy technology; 400 research papers with high impact factor, above 7500 citations. Ministry of Science and Technology and Pakistan Academy of Sciences have placed Dr. Zafar in the time ten list of most influential Pakistani young scientists and awarded gold medal and productive scientist award. His creative work establishment of medicinal plants/biofuel labs; digital herbarium, botanical garden and nutraceutical laboratory for research in the University, linkage with industries for rural and academic development. He is the member of international societies like USEA, Pakistan Botanical Society, International Society of Ethnopharmacology, Asian biofuels and associate editor of various journals of repute. Currently he is linked with world reputed institutes for collaboration regarding research and development in natural products from medicinal plants and biomass energy technologies.
Dr. Shazia Sultana is a young scientist in the field of biodiversity and medicinal plants (non edible oil seeds & herbal drugs). She has published almost 235 research publications in top international journals with more than 4500 citations, high IF, H & I indices. She has also published 11 books circulated internationally. Dr. Sultana has received various national and international awards. She has been selected as the young lady from Pakistan by the Institute of Post Graduate studies, USM Malaysia; Higher Education Commission and Pakistan Council for Science and Technology. She is Editorial Board Member of many well reputed ISI journals and book series. Currently, she is supervising and working on number of research projects on Natural plants products, new energy/low carbon technology using biofuel and nonedible oil seeds for biodiesel production, plant biodiversity and conservation.
