Freshwater Phytopharmaceutical Compounds

Book Preface

Bioprospecting, i.e., identification of potential organisms yielding bioactive compounds, is considered to be the prerequisite in the development of new drugs. Unfortunately, until now, no efforts have been made to bring together both biologists and pharmacists in drug-oriented research programs for the benefit of pharmaceutical industries. Keeping these in view, a foundation has now been laid in the amalgamation of the biology and pharmacy disciplines. This approach, when encouraged and augmented, would certainly help the R&D wings of pharmaceutical industries in the identification and large-scale collection of pharmaceutically important organisms that would be possible only when their common names, classification, global distribution, habitats, and biology are known. Considering these aspects, the present publication has been brought forth. The different chapters deal with species of freshwater plants possessing bioactive compounds for various activities, such as antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antihelmintic, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, etc.

It is strongly hoped that this publication will be widely welcomed not only by pharmacy and biology disciplines but also by related disciplines, such as biotechnology, life sciences, and environmental sciences. The authors express their sincere thanks to Adv. Dr. Krishnadas, Managing Trustee of Nehru Group of Institutions Thiruvilwamala, Kerala, India, for his kind foreword. We are highly indebted to Prof. Dr. V. Sankar, Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, India, for his valued comments and suggestions. We also thank Mr. C. Rajamanickam of Vijaya Technical Institute, Parangipettai, Tamilnadu, India, for his excellent typing of the manuscript and secretarial assistance, and Mrs. J. Albin Panimalar for help in photography.

Contents

• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Antimicrobial Compounds
• Chapter 3 Antiprotozoal Compounds
• Chapter 4 Antihelmintic Compounds
• Chapter 5 Antiviral Compounds
• Chapter 6 Anticancer Compounds
• Chapter 7 Antioxidant Compounds
• Chapter 8 Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Compounds
• Chapter 9 Antidiabetic Compounds
• Chapter 10 Anticoagulant Compounds
• Chapter 11 CNS Disorders
• Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Compounds