Science of Spices and Culinary Herbs - Latest Laboratory, Pre-clinical, and Clinical Studies

Book excerpt: Many herbs and spices, in addition to their culinary use for taste, contain chemical compounds which have medicinal uses. For this reason, herbs and spices have been used for treating various ailments since ancient times. Modern scientific methods have enabled researchers to isolate bioactive compounds from herbs and spices and perform chemical analyses, which can be used to develop medicines to treat different diseases. This book series is a compilation of current reviews on studies performed on herbs and spices. Science of Spices and Culinary Herbs is essential reading for medicinal chemists, herbalists and biomedical researchers interested in the science of natural herbs and spices that are a common part of regional diets and folk medicine. The fourth volume of this series features the following reviews: 1. Pharmacological effects of Curcuma longa, focused on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects 2. Ethnomedicinal uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological effects, Pre-clinical and Clinical studies on flaxseed: A spice and culinary herb-based formulations and its constituents 3. Nigella sativa (Prophetic medicine): The Miracle Herb 4. Properties of Mexican oregano (Lippia spp.) essential oils and their use in aquaculture 5. Curry leaf: An insight into its Pharmacological activities, Medicinal profile, and Phytochemistry