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Roots of Medicinal Importance

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Root Engineering

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 40))

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Abstract

Medicinal plants have a long history in treatment of human ailments. The scientific work on different plants in the past ages has gained confidence among researchers worldwide that the global plant diversity holds the cure for many unresolved human ailments. The extensive traditional knowledge that is treasured in different parts of the globe has contributed immensely in exploring many medicinal plants, using modern biology tools. A large part of the biologically active plant-derived compounds used commercially have come into light through follow-up research to verify the authenticity of traditional knowledge. Different parts of the plant or plant as a whole has served as the source of bioactive compounds for purpose of investigation, as well as for commercial drug production. Roots are the ground anchoring part of the plant that harbors various bioactive molecules which display curative possibilities for many human ailments like cancer, diabetes, ulcer, and liver diseases. Scientific investigations in the past have helped in uncovering many phytochemicals from plant roots, some of which are now in clinical use and many others are in various stages of preclinical and clinical studies. The vast diversity of plants on the planet gives a promising journey ahead in quest for knowledge and cure for many diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology (AIMT), Amity University Uttar Pradesh (AUUP), Sec-125, Expressway, Noida, UP, India

    Aparajita Das & Ajit Varma

  2. Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

    Vipin M. Dan

  3. Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech Product Development, Trivandrum, 695005, Kerala, India

    George Varughese

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  1. Aparajita Das
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  2. Vipin M. Dan
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  3. George Varughese
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  4. Ajit Varma
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Correspondence to Ajit Varma .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Asunción Morte

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Das, A., Dan, V.M., Varughese, G., Varma, A. (2014). Roots of Medicinal Importance. In: Morte, A., Varma, A. (eds) Root Engineering. Soil Biology, vol 40. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54276-3_21

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