Medicinal Plants of Ecuador (Natural Products Chemistry of Global Plants)

This unique volume draws on the rich culture, folklore and environment of medicinal plants in Ecuador, which includes the important rain forest region. This country has rich plant resources and a large diversity of plants. In particular, the Biotechnological Research Center of Ecuador, CIBE, is an important center of plant research and biodiversity. For more than 16 years, CIBE has been performing scientific research on plants and microorganisms with extensive focus on biodiversity, biotechnology, bioproducts, hytopathology, molecular biology, tissue culture and technology transfer. The Center has state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology and great strength in human resources. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 10 Ecuador: An Introduction 12 Acknowledgments 14 Editor Biographies 16 List of Contributors 18 Part I Quality Control Considerations for South American Plants and Products 20 Chapter 1 Importance of Pharmacognosy Studies in the Quality Control of Herbal Drugs 22 Chapter 2 Application of DNA Barcodes to Medicinal Plants 38 Chapter 3 Pharmacological Studies as Essential Tools for the Scientific Validation of the Traditional Use of Herbal Drugs: Some Considerations 50 Part II Ecuadorian Plants with Antimicrobial Activity 74 Chapter 4 Novel List of Ecuadorian Flowers with Antimicrobial Activity 76 Chapter 5 Medicinal Plants Against Helicobacter pylori 88 Chapter 6 Andean Traditional Medicine plants: the Case of “Limpia” (Cleansing Ceremony) 100 Part III Important Plant Species of Ecuador 134 Chapter 7 Medicinal Plants and Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancer 136 Chapter 8 Bursera graveolens (Palo Santo), Native Species of the Ecuadorian Dry Forest 146 Chapter 9 Pharmacognostic, Chemical and Pharmacological Studies of Corynaea crassa growing in Ecuador 154 Chapter 10 Smilax Species Used in Traditional Medicine of Ecuador. Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Properties 168 Chapter 11 Malva pseudolavatera Webb & Berthel 184 Chapter 12 Nutraceutical and Functional Properties of the Andean Grain Amaranthus caudatus L. 198 Chapter 13 Cinchona pubescens (Cascarilla), Native Species from the Andes Mountains of South America 214 Index 222 Pharmacognosy;,Herbal;,Drugs Pharmacognosy,Herbal,Drugs "This unique volume draws on the rich culture, folklore and environment of medicinal plants in Ecuador, which includes the important Rain Forest region. This country has rich plant resources and a large diversity of plants. In particular, the Biotechnological Research Center of Ecuador, CIBE is an important center of plant research and biodiversity. CIBE has more than 16 years performing scientific research on plants and microorganisms with extensive experience in biodiversity, biotechnology, bioproducts, phytopathology, molecular biology, tissue culture and technology transfer. The Center has state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology and a great strength in human resources"-- Provided by publisher This volume describes the rich chemistry, pharmacological nature and complexity of a selection of natural products from Ecuador and their respective biosynthetic building blocks.