Natural products, particularly, microbial and plant products in their native form have been associated with mankind since ancient times. Natural products offer a vast, virtually untapped reservoir of chemical compounds with many potential uses. Apart from drugs, they can also be used as lead compounds, dietary supplements and personal care items. The present volume of the book series entitled, "Natural Products: Research Reviews" is a critical review book which stimulates progress in all areas of natural products research.The book gives an excellent overview of the current trends in natural product research. This is an interesting and authoritative volume as a collection of monographic chapters on specific problems regarding natural products for maintenance of health, as well as in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Each chapter contains in depth account of the materials covered, involving mainly the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products, as well as the use of new tools for purity evaluation. It presents current frontiers and future guidelines for research based on important discoveries made in the field of natural products and presents 12 review chapters from eminent scientists in India and abroad. The interesting reviews included in this publication are: Diabetes and medicinal plants in Portugal; Immunotherapeutic targeting of multiple dysregulated immune functions in cancer by neem leaf glycoprotein; Misteltoe lectins in cancer therapy: Administration by the oral route or by subcutaneous injection?- A review; Phytochemical profile of Aegle marmelos (Family-Rutaceae); Supercritical fluid extraction as a tool for value addition of natural products; Phytochemistry of the genus Croton; Anti-amyloidogenic effect of natural products: Implications for the prevention and therapeutics of Alzheimer's disease; An overview of Acmella oleracea a multipurpose species; Effect of natural plant based and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the immune system; Inorganic composition of medicinal plants; Medicinal plants for management of anxiety; Review on medicinal properties of onions and garlic. We hope that this volume shall generate further database and interest for the benefit of academicians, researchers and scientists working on natural products who shall find the volume very useful and indispensable in their relevant research pursuits.
