Phytomedicines, herbal drugs, and poisons /

This compendium offers an accessible, compact overview of commercially relevant and well-known medicinal, mind-altering, and poisonous plants. Van Wyk (botany, Univ. of Johannesburg, South Africa) and Wink (pharmaceutical biology, Heidelberg Univ., Germany) provide short introductory chapters that discuss fundamental concepts in botany, chemistry, pharmacology, and traditional systems of medicine. In-depth treatments of plant classes include discussions of their chemical composition and structure as well as their properties and uses. At the heart of the work are short monographs for 360 species of plants. Entries include a color photograph of the main species, its scientific and common names, classification, uses and properties, origin, botany, chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and a photograph of the material as it is traded. A glossary and extensive index provide additional access points to the book's wealth of information. Both students and professionals will find this a handy desk reference. Those in need of fuller treatments may explore the authors' Medicinal Plants of the World (CH, Sep'04, 42-0035) and Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World (CH, Jul'09, 46-6198). Summing Up: Recommended. All library collections. --Kimberly Kristin Mitchell, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences