Chemical Dictionary Of Economic Plants

Throughout human history, people have utilised the bounty of plants as a source of many things from food, flavours and medicine, to perfumes, dyes and fibres. The competition to find new pharmacologically-active compounds as well as the very real threat to rain forest species means that phytochemical research is more intense than ever. New compounds are being identified everyday and modern biotechnology is devoted to the further exploitation of these plant products.
Chemical Dictionary of Economic Plants is a compilation consisting of approximately 1500 entries, listing the many plants and their constituents that humans have found and continue to find invaluable. Entries are arranged alphabetically under 11 headings according to their main use and include the chemical components behind their useful properties.
Each entry consists of
* Name of plant
* Synonyms
* Chemical constituents
* Occurrence
* Description and composition
* Major uses
* Comments
In addition, the Dictionary contains indexes of plant species listed and entry names of products and their synonyms. It also contains a bibliography of books that have been consulted during the compilation. These combined features result in an easily searchable and user-friendly reference.
Following the success of their previous title, Dictionary of Plant Toxins, the editors have produced a book that promises:
* to meet the demands from renewed interest in natural product chemistry;
* easy access to the information - by searching under either the plant or product name;
* to be unique in its scope - covering an extensive range of plant products for use in many differentindustries.
Since the information contained in this volume covers a wide area of interests, the Dictionary will be an invaluable reference tool for chemists, pharmacologists, pharmacognosists, food and feed scientists, chemical ecologists, economic botanists and biologists generally.

Throughout history man has utilised the bounty of plants using them as a source for food, feed, beverages, drugs and medicine, flavours, perfumes, dyes, gums, resins, fibres, timbers and numerous other applications. Modern biotechnology is centralised and devoted to the further exploitation of plant products and an example is capsicum, one of the ingredients in chilli's, that induces endorphin release in the body (a reason why many people love spicy foods) that is now added to painkillers.
This book is a compilation that lists the many essential and invaluable plant substances man has found invaluable throughout his life. Where necessary the chemical structures of the plant products are included and starting with the product rather than the plant name it provides easy access to information on an extensive range of plant products - of use in many industries.
A full bibliography of the books consulted during the compilation is included as well as two indexes (the plant species and common name) and a listing of the entry names of products and their synonyms.
Each entry includes:
Name of Plant Product
Synonyms
Chemical Classification
Occurrence
Description and Composition
Comments (where applicable)
Where necessary the chemical structures of the plant products are also included.