Natural Products and Human Diseases

Natural products have a long history of use as folk medicines in several systems of traditional medicine. Extensive evidence from modern pharmacological studies has confirmed traditional applications, and unveiled the vast potential of naturally occurring compounds, particularly plant-derived phytochemicals, in the management of chronic human diseases. The past decade has witnessed a surge of findings from randomized controlled trials testifying the safety and efficacy of natural products as adjuncts or alternatives to standard-of-care medications for several illnesses. Biomolecular studies have unveiled hundreds of cellular and molecular targets for phytochemicals including key transcription factors, receptors, enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, lipids, and non-coding RNAs. Extensive research on the preventative and therapeutic effects of natural products necessitates regular updating of the literature as to the developing potential roles of these compounds in different human diseases. This new edition takes a more focused approach and center the theme around the antimicrobial properties of natural compounds. The book is organized into four comprehensive and cohesive sections covering antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic phytochemicals. Given the growing global concern over infectious and microbial diseases, this book is an urgently needed resource for researchers interested in learning more about natural products.