Chemical Dictionary of Economic Plants

Throughout human history, people have utilised the bounty of plants as a source of many things from food, flavours and medicine, to perfumes, dyes and fibres. The competition to find new pharmacologically–active compounds as well as the very real threat to rain forest species means that phytochemical research is more intense than ever. New compounds are being identified everyday and modern biotechnology is devoted to the further exploitation of these plant products. Chemical Dictionary of Economic Plants is a compilation consisting of approximately 1500 entries, listing the many plants and their constituents that humans have found and continue to find invaluable. Entries are arranged alphabetically under 11 headings according to their main use and include the chemical components behind their useful properties. Each entry consists of ∗ Name of plant ∗ Synonyms ∗ Chemical constituents ∗ Occurrence ∗ Description and composition ∗ Major uses ∗ Comments In addition, the Dictionary contains indexes of plant species listed and entry names of products and their synonyms. It also contains a bibliography of books that have been consulted during the compilation. These combined features result in an easily searchable and user–friendly reference. Following the success of their previous title, Dictionary of Plant Toxins, the editors have produced a book that promises: ∗ to meet the demands from renewed interest in natural product chemistry; ∗ easy access to the information – by searching under either the plant or product name; ∗ to be unique in its scope – covering an extensive range of plant products for use in many different industries. Since the information contained in this volume covers a wide area of interests, the Dictionary will be an invaluable reference tool for chemists, pharmacologists, pharmacognosists, food and feed scientists, chemical ecologists, economic botanists and biologists generally.

Contributors. Preface. Medicinal Plants. Food Plants. Essential Oils. Oils and Fats. Dyestuffs. Tannins. Plant Biocides. Hallucinogenics. Gums and Rubbers. Waxes and Resins. Plant Fibres. Books Consulted. Species Index. Name Index.

"It is full of interesting information". (Natural Products Report, Vol.18, 2001)