The book is a compilation of information on various plants for their antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral activities in the form of a glossary to meet the needs of investigators in this area of research. Brief abstracts of literature reporting activities of the plant extracts and their active principles against fungi, bacteria and viruses together with complete references are presented in the book. The plants are arranged alphabetically while different works on a particular plant are in chronological order. As there is no standard and systematic compilation of literatures on plants showing antimicrobial and antiviral properties, the glossary will serve as a valuable tool for the researchers in this area of investigation to gather necessary information at a glance. Plants, as extracts and in various other forms, are being used for centuries in different traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of human ailments, particularly those caused by pathogenic bacteria, fungi as well as viruses. Their use against plant pathogens, though a relatively recent practice, has gained momentum due to the well-known problems associated with the use of synthetic pesticides for the purpose. Use of plant products for the control of human and plant diseases has certain advantages, for instance, the plants are generally readily available, production costs are low and, above all, the products are biodegradable. The effective plant constituents can combat human and plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses without toxic side effects and environmental hazards. It is because of these reasons that search for plant products having anti microbial properties has intensified in recent years. As there is no standard and systematic compilation of literatures on plants showing anti microbial properties, investigators often face difficulty in collecting pertinent information about a particular plant species and its potential for anti microbial activities. It was, therefore, felt desirable to compile available information on the antibacterial, anti fungal and antiviral activities of different plants in the form of a glossary to facilitate the investigators in this area. Based primarily on MAPA (Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Abstracts) and online databases from Pub Med, the glossary presents brief abstracts of work done in this area with complete references in a chronological order against each plant, arranged alphabetically. It covers literature for the last 25 years, though some old references have also been included. Older references were considered to be of little relevance because plants, that were shown to have some efficacy, were reinvestigated later by different workers as will be evident from the examples of Allium sativum, Azadirachta indica, Camelia sinensis, Hypericum perforatum, to mention a few.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A B Ray
A.B. Ray, former Professor and Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, obtained his Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Calcutta University under the guidance of Professor (Mrs.) Asima Chatterjee, in 1965. He did his postdoctoral research with late Professor Jack L. Beal in the College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A. About 20 students had chosen to do their postgraduate research with him. He worked on the chemistry and biological activity of different groups of plant products and published 147 research papers including several big review articles in international and national journals of repute. He visited Japan and Russia under the bilateral exchange program of INSA and delivered lectures over there. Dr. Ray participated and delivered plenary/invited lectures in various conferences and symposia. After being superannuated, he carried on his research work as Emeritus Scientist of CSIR, New Delhi till 1998.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR B.K. Sarma
B.K. Sarma is lecturer in the Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Banaras Hindu University in 2002. He is a recipient of Junior Research Fellowship of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, in Plant Pathology in 1995. He was also awarded Gold Medal from Banaras Hindu University for securing First Position in M.Sc. (Ag.). He also received Senior Research Fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for his Ph.D. programme. He has to his credit over 30 research papers and reviews published in reputed national and international journals. He has also written a chapter in an edited book. He had the privilege to deliver a keynote speech in the First Asian Congress on Plant Pathology held in Beijing, China.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR U.P. Singh
U.P. Singh is professor in the Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. He joined the department in 1974 after receiving his Ph.D. in cytology and biology of rust fungi. He is a recipient of prestigious JSPS and German fellowships. He has also visited several laboratories of different countries as visiting scientist under various invitation programmes. He has vast experience in researches involved in fungal disease management with ecologically safe botanicals and their products. He has published more than 225 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He has also written several chapters in edited books. He has successfully completed several research projects sanctioned from DST, UGC, CSIR and ICAR. His work on neem oil as antifungal agent served the base for revoking the patent taken by W.R. grace & Co. in association with USDA in 2000. He is Fellow of National Academy of Sciences and International College of Nutrition. He was also adorned with H. Mori and Prof. J. Nag Memorial awards by International College of Nutrition and Prof. M.S. Pavgi Award by Indian Phytopathological Society.
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