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This second of the three planned volumes on the medicinal and poisonous plants of South-East Asia presents a mixture of species with a long-standing reputation in traditional medicine and species that have been well investigated phytochemically or pharmacologically, but are poorly known in the South-East Asian region. Up-to-date information is provided concerning local knowledge as well as modern research findings, where possible. This is important in view of the resurgence of interest in medicinal plants in South-East Asia. In general, less information on the phytochemistry and pharmacology is available for the medicinal and poisonous plants covered in the present volume compared to those highlighted in the first one (1999). The alphabetical treatment of genera and species comprises 171 papers. Genera such as Alstonia, Alyxia, Capparis, Croton, Polygala and Quassia are well-known in traditional medicine in South-East Asia. Other genera have been quite well investigated in the field of phytochemistry and may have prospects for the production of bioactive intermediates. Examples include Strophanthus and Cerbera for their cardiac glycosides, Tabernaemontana, Ipomoea and Phaeanthus for their alkaloids and Dioscorea for its steroidal glycosides. The introduction deals with some aspects of quality control of herbal drugs. A glossary and several indices are included.
