BOOK NOTICE

2004·0.34 MB·English

by  Asha Mcelfish

58 BRIT.ORG/SIDA21(1)
BOOKNOTICE
Bf'N-ErikvanWykandMiciiaiiLWink.2004.MedicinalPlantsoftheWorld.(ISBN
0-88192-602-7,hbk.)TimberPressInc.133S.WSecondAve,Suite450,Portland,
OR97204-3527,U.S.A.(Orders:www.tnnberpress.com,[email protected],
503^227-2878,1-800-327-5680,503-227-3070fax).$39.95,480pp.,793color
photos,3tables,137diagrams,6V^"x91/2".
MedicincilPlantso/theWorldisacomprehensiveand.scientificallyaccurateguidetothebestknown
andmostimportantmedicinalplants,includingthoseofspecialcommercialorhistoricalinterest.
ThisbookisaPhotographicgu\deincludinginfoontheirbotany,mamtraditionaluses,activeingre-
dients,pharmacologicaleffectsandevidenceofefficacy(ifknown)macompact,colorful,reference
te.xt.MedicindlP/cintsdoesawonderfuljobofconceptualizingthemorethan320plantsinthebook.
Theregulatorystatusofeachplantisalsogiven—whetheritislistedinoneormorepharmacopoeias,
includingtheGermanCommissionHmonographs,thenewHSCOPmonographsottheEuropean
CommunityandtheWorldFiealthOrganizationsseriesofmonographs(allspeciestreatedmthe
last-mentionedthreeworkswillbefoundmthisbook).Inthebackofthebook,theauthorsdowellto
include"AQuickGuidetoCommercializedMedicinalPlants"anda'C^lossaryofChemical,Medical
andPharmaceuticalTerms."Thebookseemstobegearedtowardthespecialistandnotthe"average
gardener"Theguideisorganizedalphabeticallybygenusspecies,andcommonnamesmsubtitles.
Withoutsomepreviousknowledgeofbotanicalnames,theuserwillbereferencingtheinde.xfre-
quentlyNinehundredplantsarecoveredinthebook,but320havecomprehensivedetailincluding:
plantdescription,geographicorigm,therapeuticcategory,historicalandmodernuses,activeingre-
dientsandpharmacologicaleffects.—AshfiMchlfish.UoiannxilRescairhIn.stiiuteoJTexas,509Pecan
Street,ForiWorth.TX76102^4060.U.S.A.
SIDA21(1):58.2004