Echinacea: The genus Echinacea

296pp  ISBN 0415288282      £60.00

• Explains the cultivation, species diversity, genetics, and nomenclature of Echinacea
• Describes the chemistry of the pharmaceutically active ingredients
• Illustrates how the herbal remedy is used in medicine, therapy, and veterinary medicine
• Links botanical biochemistry with medicine, by correlating solid science with specific medicinal roles for Echinacea in disease prevention and abatement

Echinacea has emerged from the realm of folklore medicine and into the territory of valued and potentially fundamental therapy. While an understanding of the promising medicinal applications of Echinacea is important, knowledge of the herb's chemistry, cultivation, and analytical profiles is equally as significant.

Echinacea: The genus Echinacea examines every element of the popular herb. Several chapters in this volume deal with the taxonomy, genetics, international culture methods, and chemistry of Echinacea, while other sections focus on the analytical evaluation of the various plant parts, such as the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. The text explains how the plant is cultivated and describes the locations where it is most abundant. It presents different species of Echinacea that are medically important, and then identifies the chemically active ingredients that give Echinacea its strong pharmaceutical and therapeutic value. The book also includes a discussion of proper medicinal and veterinary uses, as well as guidance on when this remedy should not be used.

With comprehensive analysis of this popular herb, this timely book bridges the gap between the abundant molecular cataloguings of the phytochemicals present in genus Echinacea, and the functional potential of this plant. It will be a valuable resource for anyone involved in the fields of plant science, natural products chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and naturopathy.