Extracting Current Trends from Natural Sources Natural Pharmacopoeias Help Advance Novel Drug Development When developing new drugs and drug delivery technology, science often looks to nature. Today, medicines from natural sources account for 60 percent of anticancer and anti-infective drugs in use. These complex molecules have evolved over millennia to provide robust, disease-fight- ing mechanisms. With so many successes gar- nered from nature, it surprises no one that mod- ern medicine continues to validate many of the traditional uses ascribed to plants and other natural products. When working with plant products, identifica- tion and quality control are always crucial issues. Microscopic evaluation of plant material can provide a much-needed quick, accurate, and inexpensive tool for raw material authentication and assessment of purity. A combination handbook and atlas written by Roy Upton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Botanical Pharmacognosy- Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines (CRC Press 2009) includes detailed images, drawings, and photomicrographs of sectioned whole and powdered material of important species, many of which had lacked quality descriptions. Upton’s knowledge of ayurvedic, Chinese, and western practices makes him a true renaissance man of this field. He provides full instructions for setting up a microscopy laboratory and per- forming botanical microscopy for the identification of plant material. The complete repertoire of skills, tools, and techniques of pharmacognosy, from physi- cal to chemical analysis, is critical in the development of new drugs from natural products. Those conducting research need to accurately characterize the products being studied not only to foster experimental reproducibility but also to main- tain quality control, regulatory, and pharmacopoeial standards. story continued on pg. 8 (Alternative P x ) Whether they are searching for savings or new hope, more than a third of adults now make use of over-the-counter alternative therapies. “This situation increases the need for healthcare professionals, especially pharmacists, to judge the quality of available products and to interpret the products’ role in preventing and treating disease for the lay consumer,” according to Dr. Dennis V.C. Awang, author of Tyler’s Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals, Third Edition (CRC Press 2009). Tyler’s combines the scientific aspects of phy- tomedicine and pharmacognosy with the mod- ern clinical trials that support the rationale for medicinal use of herbs. Dr. Thomas Li, retired scientist from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is the author of Chinese and Related North American Herbs: Phytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values, Second Edition (CRC Press 2009), which covers more than 1800 species of Chinese herbs and more than 700 related North American species. Amid headlines touting tainted imports, Li reemphasizes the need for stricter regulation and more precise testing. “A basic scientific understanding of the Chinese herbal preparations is the first step toward build- ing consumer confidence in herbal medications,” Summer 2009 Look it up: Science Supports Alternative P x Whether you are a physician looking to expand your treatment protocols, a supplement provider looking to meet new FDA regulations, an organic chemist probing the mysteries of the rain forest, or a molecular biologist tinkering with the structure of a novel pharmaceutical, you can only be as progressive and credible as the information you access. Celebrating A Banner Year for Natural Product Resources “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein
Natural News Volume 5
Mar 30, 2016
Natural Products Newsletter, Volume 5
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Extracting Current Trends from Natural Sources
Natural Pharmacopoeias HelpAdvance Novel Drug Development
When developing new drugs and drug delivery technology, science oftenlooks to nature. Today, medicines from natural sources account for 60
percent of anticancer and anti-infective drugsin use. These complex molecules have evolvedover millennia to provide robust, disease-fight-ing mechanisms. With so many successes gar-nered from nature, it surprises no one that mod-ern medicine continues to validate many of thetraditional uses ascribed to plants and othernatural products.
When working with plant products, identifica-tion and quality control are always crucial issues.
Microscopic evaluation of plant material can provide a much-neededquick, accurate, and inexpensive tool for raw material authentication andassessment of purity. A combination handbook and atlas written by RoyUpton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Botanical Pharmacognosy-Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines (CRC Press 2009)includes detailed images, drawings, and photomicrographs of sectionedwhole and powdered material of important species, many of which hadlacked quality descriptions. Upton’s knowledge of ayurvedic, Chinese,and western practices makes him a true renaissance man of this field. Heprovides full instructions for setting up a microscopy laboratory and per-forming botanical microscopy for the identification of plant material.
The complete repertoire ofskills, tools, and techniques ofpharmacognosy, from physi-cal to chemical analysis, iscritical in the development of new drugs from natural products. Thoseconducting research need to accurately characterize the products beingstudied not only to foster experimental reproducibility but also to main-tain quality control, regulatory, and pharmacopoeial standards.
story continued on pg. 8 (Alternative Px)
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Whether they are searchingfor savings or new hope, morethan a third of adults nowmake use of over-the-counteralternative therapies. “Thissituation increases the needfor healthcare professionals,especially pharmacists, to
judge the quality of available products and tointerpret the products’ role in preventing andtreating disease for the lay consumer,” accordingto Dr. Dennis V.C. Awang, author of Tyler’sHerbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use ofPhytomedicinals, Third Edition (CRC Press 2009).Tyler’s combines the scientific aspects of phy-tomedicine and pharmacognosy with the mod-ern clinical trials that support the rationale formedicinal use of herbs.
Dr. Thomas Li, retired scientist from Agricultureand Agri-Food Canada, is the author of Chineseand Related North American Herbs:Phytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values,Second Edition (CRC Press 2009), which coversmore than 1800 species of Chinese herbs andmore than 700 related North American species.Amid headlines touting tainted imports, Lireemphasizes the need for stricter regulation andmore precise testing.
“A basic scientific understanding of the Chineseherbal preparations is the first step toward build-ing consumer confidence in herbal medications,”
Summer 2009
NATURALPRODUCTS NEXUS
Look it up: ScienceSupports Alternative Px
New Research Brings Essential Oils Back to the FutureExtracted from the flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, bark, androots, essential oils can be considered the soul of the plant.According to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinesemanuscripts, priests and alchemists used them not only in
religious ritual but also to heal thesick. Some sealed flasks discovered inKing Tutankhamun’s tomb containedan unguent that, after 3300 years, stillhad a perceptible odor. Subsequentanalysis revealed the presence offrankincense and spikenard, makingthis, perhaps, the only surviving bot-tle of the world's first perfume.Ayurvedic literature as early as 2000B.C. records Indian doctors adminis-
tering oils to their patients. The ancient Greeks employedthem cosmetically and medicinally and the Romans bathedwith them several times a day, using them to scent the hair,the body, and even the bed.
Today, society looks to science to document health choicesand the oils do not disappoint. Recent studies have shown theusefulness of the terpenes found in essential oils for chemo-prevention, treating atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and skinpenetration enhancers for transdermal drug delivery as well asfor antibacterial, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antiviralagents. Promising research has revealed that some essentialoils kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli,and other bacteria and fungi within two minutes of contact.The key to this effectiveness lies in their makeup — a com-plex mixture of chemical compounds that the MRSA andother super bugs find difficult to resist.
Best Practices and Quality Control Come to AgeThe growing body of evidence suggesting efficacy for morethan just scenting a room underscores the need for productionstandards, quality control parameters for raw materials andfinished products, and well-defined Good ManufacturingPractices. In Essential Oil Bearing Grasses: The genusCymbopogon (CRC Press 2009) Anand Akhila brings together ateam of experts to define best practices from harvest to post-harvest and extraction. They discuss analytical methods foridentifying terpenes and developments in biotechnologicalapproaches to production. Edited by K. Husnu Can Baser andGerhard Buchbauer, The Handbook of Essential Oils (CRCPress 2009) discusses production, analysis, storage, transport,toxicology, biological activity, and regulatory issues. It coversbiological activity testing, results of antimicrobial and antiox-idant tests, and penetration-enhancing activities useful indrug delivery.
New information available onessential oils may lead to anincreased understanding of theirmultidimensional uses and better,more ecologically friendly pro-duction methods.Their pleasing scent has causedcivilizations from ancient tomodern to try to capture theiressence and stopper it in a prettybottle. Drug companies will nodoubt keep abreast of essential oil and aromatic plant medi-cine research, hoping to harness this same essence in a differ-ent bottle.
Whether you are a physician looking to expand your treatment protocols, a supplement provider looking to meet newFDA regulations, an organic chemist probing the mysteries of the rain forest, or a molecular biologist tinkering with thestructure of a novel pharmaceutical, you can only be as progressive and credible as the information you access.
Celebrating A Banner Year for Natural Product Resources
“Look deep into nature, and then youwill understand everything better.”
—Albert Einstein
suggests Dr. Li. “Proper procedures to eliminate adulteration,contamination, and toxic side effects are also urgently neededto regulate the use of Chinese herbs.”
Li’s second edition includes valuable data on herbal toxicityand contamination, in addition to a constructive comparisonof active ingredients and claimed therapeutic values. With 130new herbs, it is an indispensable resource for those working toimprove herbal supplement quality and safety standards.
Because the FDA regulates herbal medicines in the U.S. asdietary supplements rather than drugs, therapeutic claims donot currently appear on package labels, thereby increasing thelikelihood of adverse drug effects and interactions. TheComplimentary Alternative Medicine industry is on the brinkof some major changes, including the highly anticipated label-ing guidelines that must be implemented by all supplementmanufacturers by June 2010, as directed by the FDA.
Alternative Px (continued from pg. 1)
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Nordic Natural ProductsConferenceHaukadalur, IcelandJune 2-5, 2009
Fapronatura 2009,Second InternationalSymposia aboutPharmacology of Natural ProductsVaradero, CubaJune 3-7, 2009
Special LibrariesAssociation AnnualConferenceWashington, DCJune 14-17, 2009
Joint Meeting onMedicinal Chemistry2009Budapest, HungaryJune 24-27, 2009
The 50th AnniversaryMeeting of the American Society ofPharmacognosy (ASP)Honolulu, HawaiiJune 27 - July 1, 2009
Functional Moleculesfrom Natural SourcesA Natural ProductsConferenceOxford, UKJuly 6-9, 2009
XXII Conference onAdvances in OrganicSynthesisKarpacz, PolandJuly 8-12, 2009
16th EuropeanSymposium on OrganicChemistry (ESOC)Prague, Czech RepublicJuly 12-16, 2009
Joint Annual Meetings of American Society of Plant Biologists &Phycological Society of AmericaHonolulu, HawaiiJuly 18-22, 2009
6th European Conference on MarineNatural ProductsPorto, PortugalJuly 19-23, 2009
Society for IndustrialMicrobiology's (SIM)Annual Meeting andExhibitionToronto, Ontario, CanadaJuly 26 - 30, 2009
Gordon ResearchConference on Natural ProductsTilton, NHJuly 26-31, 2009
42nd IUPAC CongressGlasgow, UKAugust 2-7, 2009
49th Annual Meeting of the PhytochemicalSociety of North AmericaBiologically ActivePhytochemicalsTowson University, MarylandAugust 8-12, 2009
57th InternationalCongress & AnnualMeeting of the Societyfor Medicinal PlantResearchGeneva, SwitzerlandAugust 16-20, 2009
238th ACS NationalMeeting & ExpositionFall 2009Washington, DC, USAAugust 16-20, 2009
World Congress ofPharmacy andPharmaceutical Sciences69th International Congressof FIPIstanbul, TurkeySeptember 3-9, 2009
BPC 2009 BritishPharmaceuticalConferenceManchester, UKSeptember 6-9, 2009
Asian Federation forPharmaceutical Science (AFPS) 2009Fukuoka City, JapanOctober 15-18, 2009
4th InternationalConference onPolyphenols and HealthYorkshire, EnglandDecember 7-11, 2009
NATURALPRODUCTS PIONEERSNoteworthy Names in Natural Products
NATURALPRODUCTS CALENDARNatural Products Networking News
Probiotics and prebiotics alone and together promote gas-trointestinal health and proper immune function.Consumption of the proper ratio of probiotics (live micro-bial food ingredients) and prebiotics (food ingredients thatstimulate the growth of good bacteria) can alter the intesti-nal microflora with significant health benefit. Recentresearch demonstrates great potential in the treatment ofspecific diseases, especially inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). In addition to the elimination of pathogenic bacte-ria, the mechanisms credited to these agents includeincreased SCFA production, reduction of inflammatorycytokine secretion, strengthening of the intestinal epithe-lial wall, and improvement of Th1/Th2 balance. Similarly,their use is being studied for the prevention of colorectalcancers. Evidence supports the notion that supplementaluse can change colon pH, alter gut xenobiotic metabolism,and modulate the immune system.
The Good, The Bad, and The ViableThe use of pro- and prebiotics as well as synbiotics (theirtherapeutic combination) also holds promise for improvedinfant formulas, cholesterol regulation, and treatments forlactose intolerance and diabetes. They can also be used toreplace the good bacteria that is inadvertently destroyed bynon-discriminating antibiotics.The commercial challenge is to create quality products thatlend themselves to processing, packaging, and distribution.The Handbook of Prebiotics and Probiotics Ingredients:Health Benefits and Food Applications (CRC Press 2009)explores these variables and highlights current biologicalresearch and food applications. Chapters contributed byexperts from around the world take a global perspective,providing a thorough reference for product developers andregulatory agencies as well as for nutritionists and forward-thinking health professionals.
A Pro- & Pre-biotic Approach to Bacteria
The Many Faces of Carotenoids
While many people know of !-carotene … they are rarelyaware that it is but a single representative from among over700 identified carotenoids, all of which are essential to atleast one organism. Possibly as many as 50 of these are presentin the human diet but perhaps no more than a dozen are actu-ally absorbed into bloodstream. Of these, the non-provitaminA carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are the mostabundant and we are now learning that they may each playvery critical roles in the protection against prostate cancer(lycopene), reduction of the risk for atherosclerosis(lycopene, lutein) and reduction of the risk for age-relatedmacular degeneration (lutein and zeaxanthin).
Unquestionably, the most exciting discovery within thecarotenoid field in recent years, the cloning of the enzymeresponsible for the conversion of !-carotene to vitamin A, hascome about in the use of modern cell biology and PCR tech-niques. The related discovery that lycopene is also cleavedspecifically by the carotenoid cleavage enzyme has the poten-tial to open windows upon the nature of how carotenoidsinfluence cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Understanding the factors and mechanisms that controlabsorption of carotenoids by cells is crucial to our developingability to provide nutritionists and others with the toolsessential to effectively modify diets and improve the health inpopulations around the world.
A Number of Quiet Discoveries
My own research has been largely a study of the identity,absorption, and localization of the carotenoids lutein andzeaxanthin, which are the principal components of the mac-ular pigment. This work, as so often is the case in science, hasnever been characterized by the realization that accompaniesbeing struck by lightning. Rather our understanding andrecognition that these non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids have acritical importance to maintaining ocular health arose from anumber of quiet discoveries.
Our initial HPLC investigation and characterization of theminor and obscure yellow spot in found in the macula result-ed in the discovery that it was composed of two, and only two,of the common xanthophylls found in human blood.
The fact that the mostcommon carotenoidsin the human diet andblood, !-carotene andlycopene, were absentonly really impressedus as we became awareof how unique theretina was in thisrespect; in virtuallyevery other tissue ofthe human body thecarotenoids are present in amounts and proportions not vast-ly different from that in serum.
When a further investigation involving the measurement ofthe ratio of the carotenoids revealed that the proportions oflutein and zeaxanthin varied across the retina in a systematicfashion, the puzzling nature of the accumulation of these twocarotenoids within the retina became more compelling. Thisstudy demonstrated to us that the processes of carotenoidaccumulation in the retina was under careful biochemical reg-ulation and must involve proteins capable of specifically rec-ognizing, binding, and transporting these otherwise almostindistinguishable carotenoids. … we recognized that we wereinvestigating something very unique.
Later, we discovered that metabolism of carotenoids wasoccurring within the retina and that this produced a relative-ly uncommon isomer of zeaxanthin that is not present in thediet of most people. …we were able to provide definitive evi-dence that dietary manipulation of the quantity of thecarotenoids in the retina could be achieved by consumingsupplements of these carotenoids.
Our ah-hah moments in this scientific research are sometimeshard to define but the retrospective view that, step by step wehave been able to open up new vistas as we have studied thedifferent aspects of the macular carotenoids is unmistakable.
Excerpted from an interview with John Landrum, Florida International University, Miami, USA,editor of the forthcoming Carotenoids: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Functions and Properties.
The Ah-ha Moments of Carotenoid Research
… we recognized that we were investigatingsomething very unique.
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This fall brings publication of a new edition of theDictionary of Alkaloids, put together by a team of subjectspecialists known for their work on the Chapman &Hall/CRC Dictionary of Natural Products. This new editionrepresents the cumulated effort of more than 25 years of com-pilation and editing and includes the input of a number ofwell-respected alkaloid chemists.
A Brief History of Data
Before going further, it is worth casting a brief eye over theremarkable history of the entire Chapman & Hall databaseproject, which has led to the production of a number of spe-cialized dictionaries, including the Dictionary of Alkaloids.
The C&H database (ormore strictly, databank)was established in thelate 1970s as a means ofupdating and bringingout a new edition of theDictionary of OrganicCompounds. Known asthe DOC, dating back tothe 1930s, it had beenaround in print form
through four successive editions. The DOC provided a pop-ular alternative to Beilstein. In addition to being less expen-sive than Beilstein, it provided easier access as well as morecurrent data on frequently accessed organic compounds.
A Leap of Faith – A Technically Sound Landing
The DOC played a major role in the reporting of new natur-al products. But by the 1970s, it was becoming impossible forthis traditional print product to keep pace with the rapiddevelopment of new compounds, new syntheses, and otherimportant updates. As a result, the C&H database was con-ceived. It presented a highly re-edited version of the printedDOC with massive updating drawn from the recent litera-ture. At the time, the only competing product in the fieldwas Chemical Abstracts. Incorporating direct phototypeset-ting, the DOC database represented a great technologicalleap forward. With the help of the Mack PrintingCorporation of Easton, Pennsylvania, the pioneering high-quality fifth edition of the DOC became the reference ofchoice.
Following the successful publication of DOC5, a number ofspecialized dictionaries were planned building on the tech-nology of the DOC. One of the first of these publications wasthe Dictionary of Alkaloids (by this author and Ian W.Southon) in 1988. The number of alkaloids then known wasapproximately 10,000.
The 90s: Going Electronic
The 1990s led to two further developments of note. First, thecompilation on a comprehensive basis of further classes ofnatural products led to the eventual emergence of theDictionary of Natural Products (1993), now recognized as theleading information source on all classes of metabolites.Secondly, the dictionaries migrated from print to substruc-ture-searchable electronic venues. Initially offered on CD-ROM, the dictionaries are now available in DVD and webversions; DOC6 in 1995 was the last print edition.
Currently, the two flagship Chapman & Hall/CRC productsare DNP and the Combined Chemical Dictionary, which incor-porates organic compounds as well as inorganics, drugs, andother datasets. Each of the electronic dictionaries is updatedon six month cycles.
More recently, we have begun to producea fresh series of printed publicationsdrawn from the database. Thenew Dictionary of Alkaloids ispart of that effort. Satisfyingdiverse needs, each new edi-tion will include a substruc-ture-searchable DVD alongwith the printed book.
20,000 Alkaloids and Counting
A wide definition of alkaloid has been used in the dictionary,so that, for example, non-basic alkaloidal amides are com-prehensively covered. The growth of natural product infor-mation is evidenced by the fact that the number of alkaloidsdocumented in the new edition is now more than doubled toover 20,000. Despite the increase in entries, a more compactformat makes it possible to squeeze all of the data into a sin-gle volume. While restrictions limit the amount of indexingin the print volume, extensive indexing is present in theelectronic version. For this new edition, every existing entry
is inspected and the great majority are updated. The extensive intro-duction is completely rewritten and expanded. For this purpose, wehave been lucky to secure the participation of Professor Laszlo Szabo.A renowned expert on the indole alkaloids and their biosynthesis,Professor Szabo has completely revamped the presentation and classi-fication of this largest and most complex class of alkaloids.
Reflecting changes in the literature,some notable shifts in emphasis areevident in the new edition. Thanksto the work of the Battersby groupand others, as of 1989, the struc-tures and biosynthesis of the maintypes of terrestrial alkaloid — thosemade especially by higher plants —has been worked out. The mainareas of new information have con-cerned novel and improved syn-thetic methods (notably from theNicolaou group, among others),and the isolation of new alkaloids ofunprecedented structure from a variety of organisms, some of themresulting from the participation of newly recognized enzyme types,such as the Diels-Alder enzymes. We also know much more about theinterrelatedness of ecosystems and the way in which alkaloids andother metabolites may be passed to and metabolized by predators; forexample, the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from plants can become partof a butterfly’s defense mechanism.
The Best of Both Worlds: No Choice Required
An important feature of the dictionary and of the database in generalhas always been its classification scheme for Type of Compound.These codes are designed to complement substructure searching. Eachheading merges all of the alkaloids thought by specialists to be bio-genetically related, even those that don’t share the same carbon skele-ton. The newly discovered types of alkaloid have pushed the classifi-cation scheme hard, necessitating the insertion of numerous new cat-egories in an attempt to limit as much as possible the number of alka-loids remaining under miscellaneous codes.
Not many resources offer both remarkable information and the luxu-ry of choice. Some will prefer the sophisticated and user-friendlysearch possibilities offered by the electronic version, and others willprefer to thumb through the pages of the highly browsable print ver-sion. Either way, one will find access to data unparalleled in bothscope and depth.
The newest edition will be available in the fall of this year.
CHEMnetBASE 200910 Years of Service to the Chemistry CommunityHeralded in reviews as a powerful and welcome sitefor all chemists when it premiered in 1999,CHEMnetBASE pioneered a way to keep pacewith the-never-ending data explosion of modernscience. It now incorporates a core of chemical dic-tionaries from Chapman & Hall/CRC, including:
• Combined Chemical Dictionary
• Dictionary of Natural Products
• Handbook of Chemistry & Physics
Today, CHEMnetBASE provides structure-search-able access to the properties and characteristics ofmore than 500,000 compounds, as well as almostall known natural products and polymers. To findout more, visit www.chemnetbase.com. Free trialsare available for qualifying institutions.
NATURALPRODUCTS RootSExtracting Current Trends from Natural Sources
NATURALPRODUCTS PARTNERS in PUBLISHINGSynthesizing today’s research for tomorrow’s discoveries
New Dictionary of Alkaloids Raises the BarJohn Buckingham
For more information visit www.informaworld.com
Available in print and online,Taylor & Francis journals pro-vide visibility and access tocutting-edge research as wellas the opportunity for scien-tists to have their work peer-reviewed and published.Pharmaceutical Biology cov-ers discovery, description,analysis characterization, and production/isola-tion of biologically active chemicals, as well asother substances, drugs, pharmaceutical prod-ucts, or preparations utilized in systems of tradi-tional medicine. Edited by John M. Pezzuto, pro-fessor and dean at the College of Pharmacy inHilo, Hawaii, the journal accepts manuscriptsthat meet the criteria of scientific rigor and pos-sess the potential to advance the field.
Taylor & Francis JournalsThe Chosen Forum for NewDiscoveries for 250 Years
Dictionary of Alkaloids (continued from pg. 3)
story continued on pg. 6 (Dictionary of Alkaloids)
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NATURALPRODUCTS Extracting Current Trends from Natural Sources NATURALPRODUCTS
CarotenoidsPhysical, Chemical, and BiologicalFunctions and PropertiesEdited byJohn T. LandrumFlorida International University, Miami, Florida, USACatalog no. 52306, November 2009 c. 528 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4200-5230-5 $189.95 / £121.00
FigsEdited byEphraim Philip LanskyRimonest Ltd., Haifa, IsraelHelena Maaria PaavilainenSeries: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial ProfilesCatalog no. 89668, November 2009 c. 450 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4200-8966-0 $129.95 / £82.00
Handbook of NutraceuticalsIngredients, Formulations, andApplicationsEdited byYashwant PathakSullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky, USACatalog no. 82213, November 2009 c. 416 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4200-8221-0$149.95 / £89.00
American Herbal PharmacopoeiaBotanical Pharmacognosy-MicroscopicCharacterization of Botanical MedicinesEdited byRoy UptonAmerican Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Scotts Valley,California, USACatalog no. 73265, October 2009, c. 512 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-7326-3, $169.95 / £108.00
Plant Gum Exudates of theWorldSources, Distribution, Properties, andApplicationsAmos NussinovitchThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, IsraelCatalog no. 52233, October 2009, c. 352 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-5223-7, $179.95 / £114.00
Science of Chinese MateriaMedicaEdited byDifeng ZhangJiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,ChinaCatalog no. 90801, October 2009, c. 507 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-9080-2, $129.95 / £78.99
Dictionary of AlkaloidsSecond Edition with CD-ROMEdited byJohn BuckinghamConsultant Editor, Dictionary of Natural Products,LondonKeith Baggaley and Andy RobertsConsultants, UKLaszlo F. SzaboSemmelweis University, Budapest, HungaryCatalog no. 77694, October 2009, c. 2200 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-7769-8, $695.00 / £442.00
Chinese & Related NorthAmerican HerbsPhytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values,Second EditionThomas S. C. LiPenticton, British Columbia, CanadaCatalog no. 94157, September 2009c. 560 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4200-9415-2$189.95 / £121.00
Handbook of Essential OilsScience, Technology, and ApplicationsK. Husnu Can BaserAnadolu University, Eskisehir, TurkeyGerhard BuchbauerUniversitat Wien, AustriaCatalog no. 63154, September 2009c. 656 pp., ISBN: 978-1-4200-6315-8$189.95 / £121.00
Essential Oil Bearing GrassesThe genus CymbopogonEdited byAnand AkhilaCentral Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants,Lucknow, IndiaSeries: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles,Vol. 46Catalog no. 7857, August 2009, c. 296 pp. ISBN: 978-0-8493-7857-7, $139.95 / £89.00
Handbook of Prebiotics andProbiotics IngredientsHealth Benefits and Food ApplicationsEdited bySusan Sungsoo ChoNutraSource Inc., Laurel, Maryland, USATerry FinocchiaroCatalog no. 62131, August 2009, c. 416 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-6213-7, $159.95 / £99.00
Protein Discovery TechnologiesEdited byRenata Pasqualini and Wadih ArapUniversity of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,Houston, USADrug Discovery Series, Vol. 12Catalog no. DK2081, July 2009, c. 208 pp. ISBN: 978-0-8247-5468-6, $149.95 / £95.00
Tyler's Herbs of ChoiceThe Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals,Third EditionDennis V.C. AwangMediPlant Consulting, Inc., White Rock, BritishColumbia, CanadaCatalog no. 28093, May 2009, 296 pp.ISBN: 978-0-7890-2809-9, $89.95 / £54.99
Duke's Handbook of MedicinalPlants of Latin AmericaJames A. DukeGreen Farmacy Garden, Fulton, Maryland, USACatalog no. 43161, January 2009, 832 pp.ISBN: 978-1-4200-4316-7, $119.95 / £76.99
Handbook of Plant-BasedBiofuelsEdited byAshok PandeyNational Institute for Interdisciplinary Science andTechnology, Tribandrum, IndiaCatalog no. 21755, January 2009, 312 pp. ISBN: 978-1-56022-175-3, $119.95 / £76.99
High-Throughput Analysis in thePharmaceutical IndustryEdited byPerry G. WangTeleflex, Wyomissing, Philadelphia, USASeries: Critical Reviews in Combinatorial ChemistryCatalog no. 5953X, January 2009, 432 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-5953-3, $159.95 / £99.00
International Poisonous PlantsChecklistAn Evidence-Based ReferenceD. Jesse WagstaffUnited States Food and Drug Administration(Emeritus)Catalog no. 62522, January 2009, 464 pp.ISBN: 978-1-4200-6252-6, $149.95 / £95.00
Marine Products for HealthcareFunctional and Bioactive NutraceuticalCompounds from the OceanVazhiyil VenugopalIndian Institute of Technology, MumbaiSeries: Functional Foods and NutraceuticalsCatalog no. 52632, January 2009, 528 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-5263-3, $169.95 / £108.00
Tea and Tea ProductsChemistry and Health-PromotingPropertiesEdited byChi-Tang HoRutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USAJen-Kun LinNational Taiwan University, TaipeiFereidoon ShahidiMemorial University of Newfoundland, Canada Series: Nutraceutical Science and Technology, Vol. 8Catalog no. 8082, January 2009, 320 pp.ISBN: 978-0-8493-8082-2, $149.95 / £95.00
Chemistry and MolecularAspects of Drug Design andActionEdited byE.A. Rekka and P.N. KourounakisAristotelian University of Thessaloniki, GreeceCatalog no. 9006, 2008, 384 pp. ISBN: 978-0-8493-9006-7, $179.95 / £114.00
PhytochemicalsAging and HealthEdited byMark S. Meskin and Wayne R. BidlackCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, USAR. Keith RandolphAccess Business Group, Ada, Michigan, USACatalog no. 61372, 2008, 232 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-6137-6, $129.95 / £82.00
Thin Layer Chromatography inPhytochemistryEdited byMonika Waksmundzka-Hajnos and MonikaWaksmundzka-HajnosMedical University of Lublin, PolandJoseph ShermaLafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USATeresa KowalskaUniversity of Silesia, Katowice, PolandChromatographic Science SeriesCatalog no. 46772, 2008, 896 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4200-4677-9, $199.95 / £127.00
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The cross-fertilization of classical pharmacognosy with modern chemicaland biological approaches continues to keep the pharmacognosy field rele-vant for those working in both drug development and herbal medicines. Tomeet the demand for relevant resources, CRC Press is initiating a book seriesin Clinical Pharmacognosy. Potential target areas include pharmacognosy asit relates to women’s health, infectious diseases, oxidative stress, neurode-generative diseases, aging, and/or mental health disorders and addiction.
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This fall brings publication of a new edition of theDictionary of Alkaloids, put together by a team of subjectspecialists known for their work on the Chapman &Hall/CRC Dictionary of Natural Products. This new editionrepresents the cumulated effort of more than 25 years of com-pilation and editing and includes the input of a number ofwell-respected alkaloid chemists.
A Brief History of Data
Before going further, it is worth casting a brief eye over theremarkable history of the entire Chapman & Hall databaseproject, which has led to the production of a number of spe-cialized dictionaries, including the Dictionary of Alkaloids.
The C&H database (ormore strictly, databank)was established in thelate 1970s as a means ofupdating and bringingout a new edition of theDictionary of OrganicCompounds. Known asthe DOC, dating back tothe 1930s, it had beenaround in print form
through four successive editions. The DOC provided a pop-ular alternative to Beilstein. In addition to being less expen-sive than Beilstein, it provided easier access as well as morecurrent data on frequently accessed organic compounds.
A Leap of Faith – A Technically Sound Landing
The DOC played a major role in the reporting of new natur-al products. But by the 1970s, it was becoming impossible forthis traditional print product to keep pace with the rapiddevelopment of new compounds, new syntheses, and otherimportant updates. As a result, the C&H database was con-ceived. It presented a highly re-edited version of the printedDOC with massive updating drawn from the recent litera-ture. At the time, the only competing product in the fieldwas Chemical Abstracts. Incorporating direct phototypeset-ting, the DOC database represented a great technologicalleap forward. With the help of the Mack PrintingCorporation of Easton, Pennsylvania, the pioneering high-quality fifth edition of the DOC became the reference ofchoice.
Following the successful publication of DOC5, a number ofspecialized dictionaries were planned building on the tech-nology of the DOC. One of the first of these publications wasthe Dictionary of Alkaloids (by this author and Ian W.Southon) in 1988. The number of alkaloids then known wasapproximately 10,000.
The 90s: Going Electronic
The 1990s led to two further developments of note. First, thecompilation on a comprehensive basis of further classes ofnatural products led to the eventual emergence of theDictionary of Natural Products (1993), now recognized as theleading information source on all classes of metabolites.Secondly, the dictionaries migrated from print to substruc-ture-searchable electronic venues. Initially offered on CD-ROM, the dictionaries are now available in DVD and webversions; DOC6 in 1995 was the last print edition.
Currently, the two flagship Chapman & Hall/CRC productsare DNP and the Combined Chemical Dictionary, which incor-porates organic compounds as well as inorganics, drugs, andother datasets. Each of the electronic dictionaries is updatedon six month cycles.
More recently, we have begun to producea fresh series of printed publicationsdrawn from the database. Thenew Dictionary of Alkaloids ispart of that effort. Satisfyingdiverse needs, each new edi-tion will include a substruc-ture-searchable DVD alongwith the printed book.
20,000 Alkaloids and Counting
A wide definition of alkaloid has been used in the dictionary,so that, for example, non-basic alkaloidal amides are com-prehensively covered. The growth of natural product infor-mation is evidenced by the fact that the number of alkaloidsdocumented in the new edition is now more than doubled toover 20,000. Despite the increase in entries, a more compactformat makes it possible to squeeze all of the data into a sin-gle volume. While restrictions limit the amount of indexingin the print volume, extensive indexing is present in theelectronic version. For this new edition, every existing entry
is inspected and the great majority are updated. The extensive intro-duction is completely rewritten and expanded. For this purpose, wehave been lucky to secure the participation of Professor Laszlo Szabo.A renowned expert on the indole alkaloids and their biosynthesis,Professor Szabo has completely revamped the presentation and classi-fication of this largest and most complex class of alkaloids.
Reflecting changes in the literature,some notable shifts in emphasis areevident in the new edition. Thanksto the work of the Battersby groupand others, as of 1989, the struc-tures and biosynthesis of the maintypes of terrestrial alkaloid — thosemade especially by higher plants —has been worked out. The mainareas of new information have con-cerned novel and improved syn-thetic methods (notably from theNicolaou group, among others),and the isolation of new alkaloids ofunprecedented structure from a variety of organisms, some of themresulting from the participation of newly recognized enzyme types,such as the Diels-Alder enzymes. We also know much more about theinterrelatedness of ecosystems and the way in which alkaloids andother metabolites may be passed to and metabolized by predators; forexample, the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids from plants can become partof a butterfly’s defense mechanism.
The Best of Both Worlds: No Choice Required
An important feature of the dictionary and of the database in generalhas always been its classification scheme for Type of Compound.These codes are designed to complement substructure searching. Eachheading merges all of the alkaloids thought by specialists to be bio-genetically related, even those that don’t share the same carbon skele-ton. The newly discovered types of alkaloid have pushed the classifi-cation scheme hard, necessitating the insertion of numerous new cat-egories in an attempt to limit as much as possible the number of alka-loids remaining under miscellaneous codes.
Not many resources offer both remarkable information and the luxu-ry of choice. Some will prefer the sophisticated and user-friendlysearch possibilities offered by the electronic version, and others willprefer to thumb through the pages of the highly browsable print ver-sion. Either way, one will find access to data unparalleled in bothscope and depth.
The newest edition will be available in the fall of this year.
CHEMnetBASE 200910 Years of Service to the Chemistry CommunityHeralded in reviews as a powerful and welcome sitefor all chemists when it premiered in 1999,CHEMnetBASE pioneered a way to keep pacewith the-never-ending data explosion of modernscience. It now incorporates a core of chemical dic-tionaries from Chapman & Hall/CRC, including:
• Combined Chemical Dictionary
• Dictionary of Natural Products
• Handbook of Chemistry & Physics
Today, CHEMnetBASE provides structure-search-able access to the properties and characteristics ofmore than 500,000 compounds, as well as almostall known natural products and polymers. To findout more, visit www.chemnetbase.com. Free trialsare available for qualifying institutions.
NATURALPRODUCTS RootSExtracting Current Trends from Natural Sources
NATURALPRODUCTS PARTNERS in PUBLISHINGSynthesizing today’s research for tomorrow’s discoveries
New Dictionary of Alkaloids Raises the BarJohn Buckingham
For more information visit www.informaworld.com
Available in print and online,Taylor & Francis journals pro-vide visibility and access tocutting-edge research as wellas the opportunity for scien-tists to have their work peer-reviewed and published.Pharmaceutical Biology cov-ers discovery, description,analysis characterization, and production/isola-tion of biologically active chemicals, as well asother substances, drugs, pharmaceutical prod-ucts, or preparations utilized in systems of tradi-tional medicine. Edited by John M. Pezzuto, pro-fessor and dean at the College of Pharmacy inHilo, Hawaii, the journal accepts manuscriptsthat meet the criteria of scientific rigor and pos-sess the potential to advance the field.
Taylor & Francis JournalsThe Chosen Forum for NewDiscoveries for 250 Years
Dictionary of Alkaloids (continued from pg. 3)
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Nordic Natural ProductsConferenceHaukadalur, IcelandJune 2-5, 2009
Fapronatura 2009,Second InternationalSymposia aboutPharmacology of Natural ProductsVaradero, CubaJune 3-7, 2009
Special LibrariesAssociation AnnualConferenceWashington, DCJune 14-17, 2009
Joint Meeting onMedicinal Chemistry2009Budapest, HungaryJune 24-27, 2009
The 50th AnniversaryMeeting of the American Society ofPharmacognosy (ASP)Honolulu, HawaiiJune 27 - July 1, 2009
Functional Moleculesfrom Natural SourcesA Natural ProductsConferenceOxford, UKJuly 6-9, 2009
XXII Conference onAdvances in OrganicSynthesisKarpacz, PolandJuly 8-12, 2009
16th EuropeanSymposium on OrganicChemistry (ESOC)Prague, Czech RepublicJuly 12-16, 2009
Joint Annual Meetings of American Society of Plant Biologists &Phycological Society of AmericaHonolulu, HawaiiJuly 18-22, 2009
6th European Conference on MarineNatural ProductsPorto, PortugalJuly 19-23, 2009
Society for IndustrialMicrobiology's (SIM)Annual Meeting andExhibitionToronto, Ontario, CanadaJuly 26 - 30, 2009
Gordon ResearchConference on Natural ProductsTilton, NHJuly 26-31, 2009
42nd IUPAC CongressGlasgow, UKAugust 2-7, 2009
49th Annual Meeting of the PhytochemicalSociety of North AmericaBiologically ActivePhytochemicalsTowson University, MarylandAugust 8-12, 2009
57th InternationalCongress & AnnualMeeting of the Societyfor Medicinal PlantResearchGeneva, SwitzerlandAugust 16-20, 2009
238th ACS NationalMeeting & ExpositionFall 2009Washington, DC, USAAugust 16-20, 2009
World Congress ofPharmacy andPharmaceutical Sciences69th International Congressof FIPIstanbul, TurkeySeptember 3-9, 2009
BPC 2009 BritishPharmaceuticalConferenceManchester, UKSeptember 6-9, 2009
Asian Federation forPharmaceutical Science (AFPS) 2009Fukuoka City, JapanOctober 15-18, 2009
4th InternationalConference onPolyphenols and HealthYorkshire, EnglandDecember 7-11, 2009
NATURALPRODUCTS PIONEERSNoteworthy Names in Natural Products
NATURALPRODUCTS CALENDARNatural Products Networking News
Probiotics and prebiotics alone and together promote gas-trointestinal health and proper immune function.Consumption of the proper ratio of probiotics (live micro-bial food ingredients) and prebiotics (food ingredients thatstimulate the growth of good bacteria) can alter the intesti-nal microflora with significant health benefit. Recentresearch demonstrates great potential in the treatment ofspecific diseases, especially inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). In addition to the elimination of pathogenic bacte-ria, the mechanisms credited to these agents includeincreased SCFA production, reduction of inflammatorycytokine secretion, strengthening of the intestinal epithe-lial wall, and improvement of Th1/Th2 balance. Similarly,their use is being studied for the prevention of colorectalcancers. Evidence supports the notion that supplementaluse can change colon pH, alter gut xenobiotic metabolism,and modulate the immune system.
The Good, The Bad, and The ViableThe use of pro- and prebiotics as well as synbiotics (theirtherapeutic combination) also holds promise for improvedinfant formulas, cholesterol regulation, and treatments forlactose intolerance and diabetes. They can also be used toreplace the good bacteria that is inadvertently destroyed bynon-discriminating antibiotics.The commercial challenge is to create quality products thatlend themselves to processing, packaging, and distribution.The Handbook of Prebiotics and Probiotics Ingredients:Health Benefits and Food Applications (CRC Press 2009)explores these variables and highlights current biologicalresearch and food applications. Chapters contributed byexperts from around the world take a global perspective,providing a thorough reference for product developers andregulatory agencies as well as for nutritionists and forward-thinking health professionals.
A Pro- & Pre-biotic Approach to Bacteria
The Many Faces of Carotenoids
While many people know of !-carotene … they are rarelyaware that it is but a single representative from among over700 identified carotenoids, all of which are essential to atleast one organism. Possibly as many as 50 of these are presentin the human diet but perhaps no more than a dozen are actu-ally absorbed into bloodstream. Of these, the non-provitaminA carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene are the mostabundant and we are now learning that they may each playvery critical roles in the protection against prostate cancer(lycopene), reduction of the risk for atherosclerosis(lycopene, lutein) and reduction of the risk for age-relatedmacular degeneration (lutein and zeaxanthin).
Unquestionably, the most exciting discovery within thecarotenoid field in recent years, the cloning of the enzymeresponsible for the conversion of !-carotene to vitamin A, hascome about in the use of modern cell biology and PCR tech-niques. The related discovery that lycopene is also cleavedspecifically by the carotenoid cleavage enzyme has the poten-tial to open windows upon the nature of how carotenoidsinfluence cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Understanding the factors and mechanisms that controlabsorption of carotenoids by cells is crucial to our developingability to provide nutritionists and others with the toolsessential to effectively modify diets and improve the health inpopulations around the world.
A Number of Quiet Discoveries
My own research has been largely a study of the identity,absorption, and localization of the carotenoids lutein andzeaxanthin, which are the principal components of the mac-ular pigment. This work, as so often is the case in science, hasnever been characterized by the realization that accompaniesbeing struck by lightning. Rather our understanding andrecognition that these non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids have acritical importance to maintaining ocular health arose from anumber of quiet discoveries.
Our initial HPLC investigation and characterization of theminor and obscure yellow spot in found in the macula result-ed in the discovery that it was composed of two, and only two,of the common xanthophylls found in human blood.
The fact that the mostcommon carotenoidsin the human diet andblood, !-carotene andlycopene, were absentonly really impressedus as we became awareof how unique theretina was in thisrespect; in virtuallyevery other tissue ofthe human body thecarotenoids are present in amounts and proportions not vast-ly different from that in serum.
When a further investigation involving the measurement ofthe ratio of the carotenoids revealed that the proportions oflutein and zeaxanthin varied across the retina in a systematicfashion, the puzzling nature of the accumulation of these twocarotenoids within the retina became more compelling. Thisstudy demonstrated to us that the processes of carotenoidaccumulation in the retina was under careful biochemical reg-ulation and must involve proteins capable of specifically rec-ognizing, binding, and transporting these otherwise almostindistinguishable carotenoids. … we recognized that we wereinvestigating something very unique.
Later, we discovered that metabolism of carotenoids wasoccurring within the retina and that this produced a relative-ly uncommon isomer of zeaxanthin that is not present in thediet of most people. …we were able to provide definitive evi-dence that dietary manipulation of the quantity of thecarotenoids in the retina could be achieved by consumingsupplements of these carotenoids.
Our ah-hah moments in this scientific research are sometimeshard to define but the retrospective view that, step by step wehave been able to open up new vistas as we have studied thedifferent aspects of the macular carotenoids is unmistakable.
Excerpted from an interview with John Landrum, Florida International University, Miami, USA,editor of the forthcoming Carotenoids: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Functions and Properties.
The Ah-ha Moments of Carotenoid Research
… we recognized that we were investigatingsomething very unique.
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Extracting Current Trends from Natural Sources
Natural Pharmacopoeias HelpAdvance Novel Drug Development
When developing new drugs and drug delivery technology, science oftenlooks to nature. Today, medicines from natural sources account for 60
percent of anticancer and anti-infective drugsin use. These complex molecules have evolvedover millennia to provide robust, disease-fight-ing mechanisms. With so many successes gar-nered from nature, it surprises no one that mod-ern medicine continues to validate many of thetraditional uses ascribed to plants and othernatural products.
When working with plant products, identifica-tion and quality control are always crucial issues.
Microscopic evaluation of plant material can provide a much-neededquick, accurate, and inexpensive tool for raw material authentication andassessment of purity. A combination handbook and atlas written by RoyUpton, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia: Botanical Pharmacognosy-Microscopic Characterization of Botanical Medicines (CRC Press 2009)includes detailed images, drawings, and photomicrographs of sectionedwhole and powdered material of important species, many of which hadlacked quality descriptions. Upton’s knowledge of ayurvedic, Chinese,and western practices makes him a true renaissance man of this field. Heprovides full instructions for setting up a microscopy laboratory and per-forming botanical microscopy for the identification of plant material.
The complete repertoire ofskills, tools, and techniques ofpharmacognosy, from physi-cal to chemical analysis, iscritical in the development of new drugs from natural products. Thoseconducting research need to accurately characterize the products beingstudied not only to foster experimental reproducibility but also to main-tain quality control, regulatory, and pharmacopoeial standards.
story continued on pg. 8 (Alternative Px)
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Whether they are searchingfor savings or new hope, morethan a third of adults nowmake use of over-the-counteralternative therapies. “Thissituation increases the needfor healthcare professionals,especially pharmacists, to
judge the quality of available products and tointerpret the products’ role in preventing andtreating disease for the lay consumer,” accordingto Dr. Dennis V.C. Awang, author of Tyler’sHerbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use ofPhytomedicinals, Third Edition (CRC Press 2009).Tyler’s combines the scientific aspects of phy-tomedicine and pharmacognosy with the mod-ern clinical trials that support the rationale formedicinal use of herbs.
Dr. Thomas Li, retired scientist from Agricultureand Agri-Food Canada, is the author of Chineseand Related North American Herbs:Phytopharmacology & Therapeutic Values,Second Edition (CRC Press 2009), which coversmore than 1800 species of Chinese herbs andmore than 700 related North American species.Amid headlines touting tainted imports, Lireemphasizes the need for stricter regulation andmore precise testing.
“A basic scientific understanding of the Chineseherbal preparations is the first step toward build-ing consumer confidence in herbal medications,”
Summer 2009
NATURALPRODUCTS NEXUS
Look it up: ScienceSupports Alternative Px
New Research Brings Essential Oils Back to the FutureExtracted from the flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, bark, androots, essential oils can be considered the soul of the plant.According to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Chinesemanuscripts, priests and alchemists used them not only in
religious ritual but also to heal thesick. Some sealed flasks discovered inKing Tutankhamun’s tomb containedan unguent that, after 3300 years, stillhad a perceptible odor. Subsequentanalysis revealed the presence offrankincense and spikenard, makingthis, perhaps, the only surviving bot-tle of the world's first perfume.Ayurvedic literature as early as 2000B.C. records Indian doctors adminis-
tering oils to their patients. The ancient Greeks employedthem cosmetically and medicinally and the Romans bathedwith them several times a day, using them to scent the hair,the body, and even the bed.
Today, society looks to science to document health choicesand the oils do not disappoint. Recent studies have shown theusefulness of the terpenes found in essential oils for chemo-prevention, treating atherosclerosis and thrombosis, and skinpenetration enhancers for transdermal drug delivery as well asfor antibacterial, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antiviralagents. Promising research has revealed that some essentialoils kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli,and other bacteria and fungi within two minutes of contact.The key to this effectiveness lies in their makeup — a com-plex mixture of chemical compounds that the MRSA andother super bugs find difficult to resist.
Best Practices and Quality Control Come to AgeThe growing body of evidence suggesting efficacy for morethan just scenting a room underscores the need for productionstandards, quality control parameters for raw materials andfinished products, and well-defined Good ManufacturingPractices. In Essential Oil Bearing Grasses: The genusCymbopogon (CRC Press 2009) Anand Akhila brings together ateam of experts to define best practices from harvest to post-harvest and extraction. They discuss analytical methods foridentifying terpenes and developments in biotechnologicalapproaches to production. Edited by K. Husnu Can Baser andGerhard Buchbauer, The Handbook of Essential Oils (CRCPress 2009) discusses production, analysis, storage, transport,toxicology, biological activity, and regulatory issues. It coversbiological activity testing, results of antimicrobial and antiox-idant tests, and penetration-enhancing activities useful indrug delivery.
New information available onessential oils may lead to anincreased understanding of theirmultidimensional uses and better,more ecologically friendly pro-duction methods.Their pleasing scent has causedcivilizations from ancient tomodern to try to capture theiressence and stopper it in a prettybottle. Drug companies will nodoubt keep abreast of essential oil and aromatic plant medi-cine research, hoping to harness this same essence in a differ-ent bottle.
Whether you are a physician looking to expand your treatment protocols, a supplement provider looking to meet newFDA regulations, an organic chemist probing the mysteries of the rain forest, or a molecular biologist tinkering with thestructure of a novel pharmaceutical, you can only be as progressive and credible as the information you access.
Celebrating A Banner Year for Natural Product Resources
“Look deep into nature, and then youwill understand everything better.”
—Albert Einstein
suggests Dr. Li. “Proper procedures to eliminate adulteration,contamination, and toxic side effects are also urgently neededto regulate the use of Chinese herbs.”
Li’s second edition includes valuable data on herbal toxicityand contamination, in addition to a constructive comparisonof active ingredients and claimed therapeutic values. With 130new herbs, it is an indispensable resource for those working toimprove herbal supplement quality and safety standards.
Because the FDA regulates herbal medicines in the U.S. asdietary supplements rather than drugs, therapeutic claims donot currently appear on package labels, thereby increasing thelikelihood of adverse drug effects and interactions. TheComplimentary Alternative Medicine industry is on the brinkof some major changes, including the highly anticipated label-ing guidelines that must be implemented by all supplementmanufacturers by June 2010, as directed by the FDA.
Alternative Px (continued from pg. 1)
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