The ever-rising increase in the consumption of medicinal herbs and its products and its exposure in the human population have generated concerns about the potential neurotoxicity of several new and existing botanicals. This book offers an accurate, relevant, and comprehensive coverage of a wide variety of medicinal herbs and fungi affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. It includes review articles that thoroughly describe the benefits and adverse effects of some of the most commonly used medicinal herbs and fungi, and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying them. The book provides an all-inclusive overview of the diverse aspects of medicinal herbs and fungi related to neurotoxicity and/or neuroprotection, ranging from discussions of cellular and molecular processes and pathology to clinical aspects. The rich compilation brings together thorough and extensive research updates on the advances in the field. The chapters have been contributed by the experienced and eminent academicians, researchers, and scientists working in the field across the globe.
Dr. Dinesh Agrawal, Ph.D., is working as a professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry, Chaoyang University of Technology (CYUT), Taiwan. Before joining the CYUT in 2013, he had served in the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India, for 31 years. Professor Agrawal has more than 38 years of research experience in biotechnology of diverse species, including medicinal plants and fungi, and has 180+ publications, including five books (3 by Springer). Professor Agrawal has been conferred several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (Germany), DBT Overseas Associateship (USA), British Council Scholar (UK), European Research Fellow (UK), and INSA Visiting Scientist (India). Professor Agrawal has served as a member of the editorial board of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Abstracts, NISCAIR, Govt. of India. Presently, he is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering (Scopus) and serving asAssociate Editor-in-Chief of the journal.
Dr. Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Drug Discovery and Development at Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University. Before joining Auburn University in 2005, he worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, and Scott & White Clinic / Texas A & M, Temple, TX. His current research involves elucidating the neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects of botanicals and synthetic compounds, discovery, and development of drugs/compounds targeting Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Professor Dhanasekaran completed the New Investigator Research Grant from Alzheimer's Association, several grants from the Auburn University grants, and several other research projects from a Pharmaceutical Company. He has published more than 200 scientific abstracts, 85 peer-reviewed publications, a book, and several book chapters.
