Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds – Book Review

A review of Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds (1st ed.). José L. Martinez, Alfred Maroyi, and Marcelo L. Wagner (Eds). CRC Press, 2023, 246 pp., £42.39 (eBook), ISBN 9781003323969. Ethnobotany: Ethnopharmacology to Bioactive Compounds, published by CRC Press, discusses ethnopharmacological approaches in phytochemical research to discover bioactive compounds with potential as pharmaceutical drugs. The medicinal plants discussed have complex biological effects, such as additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions, making them essential in multidisciplinary research. The bioactive compounds in these plants contribute to various therapeutic effects, making them potential drug development sources. Several sections in this book discuss nutritional aspects, mechanisms of action, and clinical trials of medicinal plants, including resveratrol, coffee, and antidiabetic plants. It reviews the molecular basis of flavonoids as bioactive compounds from the perspective of modern phytochemistry. This book's integration of biological and social science aspects highlights the relationship between humans and plants in ethnobotany. This approach emphasizes the practical application of ethnopharmacology in developing plant-based therapies.