Medicinal Spices and Herbs from India

Book excerpt: Indian spices are known for their tremendous advantages, both as medicines as well as in cuisine. This two-volume book provides detailed information about the pharmacological and therapeutic benefits of traditional and exotic Indian spices grown on Indian soil and available across geographical boundaries. Volume 1 first provides an introduction to the history of use of spices in Indian culture and then goes on to discuss the influence of geographical location and climatic variation, processing conditions for extraction of active principles, medicinal uses, etc. It also explores the therapeutic properties and molecular mechanisms of Indian spices used as medicine in the treatment of cancer, inflammation, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, brain and cognitive function, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, bacterial infections, and other pathological conditions. The application of Indian spices in dairy products and beverages and modern herbal formulations of Indian spices, essential oils, and aromatic waters are also discussed. Volume 2 is titled Beneficial Health Effects of 20 Exotic Spices and focuses on individual spices and their uses in treating various diseases.