This comprehensive book offers an in-depth exploration of herbal medicines and pharmacognosy, serving as a vital resource for students, researchers, and practitioners in pharmaceutical sciences, botany, and alternative medicine. Designed with clarity and academic rigor, the book bridges traditional healing knowledge with modern scientific principles.

Beginning with the Introduction to Herbal Medicines, it traces the historical roots, cultural relevance, and global acceptance of plant-based therapies. The Introduction to Pharmacognosy delves into the origin, classification, and significance of natural drugs, emphasizing the role of medicinal plants in healthcare systems.

The Phytochemistry section provides detailed insights into the chemistry of plant-derived compounds, their biosynthesis, classification, and therapeutic importance. Special attention is given to major phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, and essential oils.

The final section, Analytical Pharmacognosy, equips readers with modern tools and techniques for the identification, standardization, and quality control of herbal drugs. Techniques such as chromatography and spectroscopy are discussed with practical applications. 

Key Features

• Covers fundamentals to advanced concepts in herbal medicine and pharmacognosy
• Integrates traditional knowledge with modern scientific validation
• Includes illustrations, tables, and real-world case studies
• Designed for students of Pharmacy, Ayurveda, Botany, and related fields
• Useful reference for researchers and practitioners in herbal drug development

Dr. Liza Handique has more than 10 years of teaching experience as a teacher in Jagannath Barooah College, Jorhat, Assam now upgraded to a university. She has authored book named “Elaeagnus latifolia L. conservation: Perspectives in land reclamation.” Which have been translated to 5 different languages viz. French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and German. She have authored 4 more books viz. Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Sustainability, Textbook of Plant Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Microbial ecology of Elaeagnus latifolia L and a textbook of Biofertilisers. She had done her masters from Delhi University, Delhi, India in 2012 and Ph.D from Forest Research Institute (Deemed) University in Forest Botany in 2016. She has achieved the Best Graduate in Science from Dibrugarh University in 2010, followed by Manik Lal Phookan award in 2010 from J.B. College, Jorhat, She had also received InSc, Institute of Scholars” Research Excellence Award in Nov, 2020 and SADHNA “Young achiever award”, 2020. She is also a permanent member of Society for advancement of Human and Nature since 2020 onwards and Institute of Scholars since 2020 onwards, Delhi University Botanical Society, Botanical society of Assam and Indian Botanical society. She had published many research papers in Journals, book chapters and 6 books till date.

Biswadeep Gogoi has been working as assistant professor in Devicharan Barua Girl’s college, Jorhat, Assam, India and has teaching experience of more than 13 years. He have published many research papers in esteemed journals and book chapters too. He did his masters and M.Phil from Gauhati university, Guwahati, Assam, India.

Preface
Section I. Introduction to Herbal Medicines
Chapter 1 History and Scope of Herbal Medicines
Chapter 2. Definition of Medical Terms Related to Herbal Technology
Chapter 3. Role of Medicinal Plants in Traditional Systems of Medicine: The Enduring Wisdom of  Nature’s Pharmacy
Chapter 4. Cultivation of Medicinal Plants: Nurturing Nature’s Pharmacy
Chapter 5. Harvesting and Processing of Medicinal Plants: Maximizing Therapeutic Potential
Chapter 6. Storage, Marketing, and Utilization of Medicinal Plants:Ensuring Quality and Accessibility
Section II. Introduction to Pharmacognosy
Chapter 1. Definition and Scope
Chapter 2. Drug Definitions, Forms, and Quality
Chapter 3. Drug Collection, Processing, and Evaluation
Chapter 4. A Historical Journey through Pharmacognosy
Chapter 5. Systematic Position and Medicinal Uses of the following herbs
III. Phytochemistry
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Phytochemicals
Chapter 3. Techniques
Chapter 4. Steps Involved in Plant Collection
Chapter 5. Methods of Extraction
Chapter 6. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals
Chapter 7. Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
Chapter 8. Methods of Detection
Chapter 9. Identification and Utilization of Medicinal Herbs
IV. Analytical Pharmacognosy
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Procedure of Analysis of Plant Samples
Chapter 3. Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis
Chapter 4. Quantitative Analysis of Phytochemicals
Practicals
Chapter 1. Preparation of Herbarium of the Medicinal Plants 
Chapter 2. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening Tests for Secondary Metabolites (alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, Chapterphenolic compounds)
Glossary
Photos
Index