Short description:

Provides information about the pharmacological and therapeutic benefits of traditional and exotic Indian spices grown on Indian soil. Covers history, influence of geography and climate, and processing conditions for extraction of Indian spices, medicinal uses of traditional spices, etc.

Long description:

Indian spices are known for their tremendous advantages, both as medicines as well as in cuisine. This two-volume book, Medicinal Spices and Herbs from India, has been structured to provide 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: Introduction, Therapeutic Properties, and Commercial Products has been divided into four segments, beginning with an introduction to the history of use of spices in Indian culture. The book goes on to discuss the influence of geographical location and climatic variation, processing conditions for extraction of active principles from Indian spices, medicinal uses of traditional spices, etc. It also explores the therapeutic properties and molecular mechanisms of exotic 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 have also been discussed. The molecular mechanisms of some exotic Indian spices used as medicine have been detailed in this book as well.

Volume 2: Beneficial Health Effects of 20 Exotic Spices focuses on individual spices and their uses in treating various diseases. In particular, the volume explores the impacts and uses of black cumin, celery, black stone flowers, chili pepper, Asian spider flower, alkanet, kapok tree, pomegranate, asafoetida, fenugreek, cardamom, Indian sandalwood, musk, and more. Exploring each herb in detail, the book provides both new information as well as reinforces existing knowledge regarding these spices, adding to the knowledge about these exotic Indian spices in the field of medicine.

Covering a range of topics on exotic Indian spices, this two-volume book will prove extremely beneficial to researchers in the field of pharmacy, botany, agricultural sciences, food science, dietetics, and culinary science.

Table of Contents:

VOLUME 1: INTRODUCTION, THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES, AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. History of the Use of Spices in Indian Culture 2. Medicinal Uses of Traditional Indian Spices 3. Effect of Geographical Location and Climatic Variation on Composition of Active Principles in Indian Spices 4. Processing of Indian Species for Extraction of Active Principles PART II: THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES AND MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF EXOTIC INDIAN SPICES USED AS MEDICINE 5. Anti-Cancer Properties of Indian Spices 6. Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Exotic Indian Spice 7. Antidiabetic Activities of Exotic Indian Spices 8. Effect of Indian Spices on Metabolic Syndrome, Brain, and Cognitive Disorders 9. Beneficial Effects of Exotic Indian Spices on Cardiovascular Diseases 10. Beneficial Effects of Exotic Indian Spices on Skin Diseases 11. Effect of Exotic Indian Spices on Gastrointestinal Disorders 12. Antimicrobial Properties of Exotic Indian Spices 13. Other Pharmacological Activities of Exotic Indian Spices PART III: SPICE-BASED COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS FOR NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS 14. Application of Spices in Dairy Products as Natural Medicine 15. Indian Spices, Essential Oils, and Aromatic Waters in Modern Herbal Formulations 16. Applications of Indian Spices in Beverages VOLUME 2: BENEFICIAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF 20 EXOTIC SPICES PART I: INDIAN EXOTIC SPICES AND THEIR HEALTH EFFECTS 1. Impacts of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) on Human Health 2. Indian Exotic Spices and Their Health Effects: Celery (Apium graveolens) 3. Utilization of Black Stone Flowers (Parmotrema perlatum) as a Spice in India and Their Health Effects 4. Indian Exotic Spices and their Health Effects: Capsicum frutescens (Chili Pepper) 5. Therapeutic Efficacy of Zanthoxylum Species (Syn. Fagara Species) 6. Garcinia gummi-gutta (Malabar Tamarind): A Spice in Natural and Traditional Medicine 7. Impacts of Asian Spider Flower (Cleome viscosa) on Human Health 8. An Insight into the Therapeutic Potential of Alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria) 9. Indian Spice Garcinia indica Choisy (Kokum) with Predominant Health Benefits 10. Therapeutic Role of Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) in Human Diseases with Reference to Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Future Directions 11. Ceiba pentandra (Kapok Tree): An Overview of Its Medicinal Benefits 12. Pharmacological Activities of a Perennial Shrub Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.): A Review 13. Bixa orellena (Anatto or Lipstick Tree): A Potential Healer of Health Complications as Indian Spice 14. The Smelliest Spice in the World, Asafoetida (Ferula narthex Bioss): Health Benefits 15. Therapeutic Potential of the Indian Spice Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek) 16. The Role of Indian Spice Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) as a Natural and Herbal Medicine 17. Medicinal Spices and Herbs from India: Therapeutic Properties and Molecular Mechanism of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) 18. Saussurea lappa (Kushta): An Indian Spice and Its Potential Health Benefits 19. Healing Benefits of Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album L.) 20. Therapeutic Applications of Moschus moschiferus (Musk)