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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 11: 212-216.
2007. Scientific Publications
in Herbals Amrit
Pal Singh, Herbal Consultant Ind-Swift
Ltd, Address for correspondence: Dr. Amrit Pal
Singh, House No: 2101 Phase-7, Mohali-160062, E-mail: amritpal2101@yahoo.com Issued Introduction: The herbal system of medicine,
popularly known as Phytotherapy, is rapidly developing
as an independent subject. Specialties subjects like Medicinal botany or
Pharmaceutical botany, Medicinal Phytochemistry,
Ethno pharmacology and Phytopharmacotherapy are
emerging. Several studies have reported growing popularity of herbal medicine.
There is increased awareness about herbal medicine among masses. Authorities
including Central Council of Indian Medicine (C.C.I.M.) and department of Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) in American
Herbal Medicine Medical
Herbalism: A Journal for the Clinical Practitioner
is wonderful publication for herbalists practicing in different parts of
States. Herbal Gram published by American Botanical Council (A.B.C.) is
critical publication for recent trends in American Herbal Drug industry. This
journal is particularly important for addressing issue like herbal drug
interactions and role of Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) in herbals. American
Herbal Pharmacopoeia (A.H.P.) is unique publication related to botany, phytochemistry, traditional and modern medicinal uses and
dose of commonly used medicinal plants. Monographs on singe herbal drugs are
unique for practitioners and researchers. American Herbal Product Association
(A.H.P.A.) publishes documents related to safety of herbal products. Ayurveda and Medicinal Plants Ancient texts are rich from
therapeutic point of view. In Ayurveda, texts like
Charka Samhita, Bhavprakash
Nighantu, Raj Nighantu and Dhanwantri Nighantu are basis of Ayurvedic
pharmaceutics. They throw light on medicinal use of particular plant but
detailed investigations are missing. The description is largely based on organo-leptic testing. Later on, based on these ancient
texts, several Nighantu (Materia
Medica) of Ayurveda were
composed. Madan Pal Nighantu,
Bhashjeya Rattnavali and Chandrudya Vanaushadi are
noteworthy works. Materia Medica
of Ayurveda by Dr. Bhagwan
Dash is valuable publication dedicated to Indian Medicinal Plants. With onset of Another text titled Indian Materia Medica and Their
Therapeutics by Khory and Katrak
is must for people involved in herbal research. This text is unique for
methods of isolation of active principles of Indian medicinal plants. Texts
like Indian Materia Medica
by Nandkarni and Indigenous Drugs of India by
Chopra, Chopra, Handa and Kapur
are worth-mentoring works on Indian medicinal plants. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia published by Central
Council of Indian Medicine (C.C.I.M.) is standard for Ayurvedic
drug industry. Ayurvedic formulary of India
(A.F.I.) is another descriptive text about formulations used in Indian System
of Medicine. Recently, department of Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha and Homeopathy
(AYUSH) has released Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia in
four volumes. Phytochemical and Pharmacological
Investigations of Certain Medicinal Plants used in Ayurveda
is another useful text published by Central Council of Indian Medicine. Chemistry of Medicinal Plants
published by Central Council of Unani Medicine
(C.C.U.M.) is useful work for phytochemists.
Central Council of Homeopathic Medicine (C.C.H.M.) is not lagging behind. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Investigations of Certain
Medicinal Plants used in Homeopathy is standard text for Homeopathic
physicians. There is scarcity of indexed
journals in the field of Ayurevda. Journal of
Research and Education in Indian Medicine (JREIM) published from Journal of Natural Remedies
(JNR) is dedicated to pharmacognosy and
pre-clinical research in herbal remedies. Indian Journal of Natural Products
(IJNP) is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-class papers related to
Indian medical plants. Journal of
Aromatic and Medicinal Plants (JMAPS) published by Central Institute of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Although several publications
and newsletters are available in the market, they are meant for masses only.
There is a strong need for starting scientific publications dedicated to Ayurveda particularly in the field of Dravyaguna. Australian Herbal Medicine British Herbal Medicine Herbal medicine is developed
science in British Herbal Medical Association
(B.H.P.A. publishes documents related to safety of herbal products. British
Herbal Compendium includes scientific monographs on eighty medicinal plants. Evidence-based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM) publised by Oxford Publishers
applies scientific rigor to the study of complementary and alternative
medicine ( Canadian Herbal Medicine The Canadian Journal of Herbalism’s herbal monographs, case studies, book
reviews, and informative articles on current research into herbal medicine
have contributed to the development of a strong organization of
practitioners, students, and supporters of the use of medicinal plants as an
essential component of a healthy life. Miscellaneous Journals Journal of Ethno pharmacology The Journal of Ethno pharmacology is
dedicated to the exchange of information and understandings about people's
use of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms and minerals and their biological
and pharmacological effects based on the principles established through
international conventions. Fitoterapia The journal
accepts Reviews, Full Papers, Short Reports, Ethno Short Reports, Phytochemical Communications, Safety Data Reviews and Book
Reviews. Reviews can be full-length state-of-the-art articles or mini reviews
providing a short overview of a particular matter. Journal of Natural Products The Journal
of Natural Products comprises natural product research relating
to the chemistry and/or biochemistry of naturally occurring compounds or the
biology of living systems from which they are obtained Journal of Natural Medicines It
covers chemistry of natural products; biochemistry of medicinal plants;
pharmacology and clinical applications of natural products and herbs,
including Kampo formulas and traditional herbs;
botanical anatomy; cultivation of medicinal plants. Journal of Herbal
Pharmacotherapy The journal is useful for pharmaceutical scientists and practitioners
dealing with herbal medicine and therapeutics. Emphasis is on Clinical and Applied
Evidence-Based Herbal Medicinals. The Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants® is a forum in which
recent research and other information associated with herbs, spices, and
medicinal plants is shared. It also begins to establish a centralized
historical literature record accessible by investigators within the
international community that work with or have an interest in herbs, spices,
and medicinal plants. Journal of Phytopharmacotherapy
and Natural Products
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