This reference work provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds investigated in bryophytes and pteridophytes and explores their nutritional, biological, pharmacological and ecological effects. Bryophytes are cosmopolitan lower plants that are rich in phytochemicals including fatty acids, tocopherols, phenolics, terpenoids. Additionally, these plants contain bibenzyls, bis-benzyls, and polyketides which have been demonstrated to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. Pteridophytes are another group of lower vascular plants which were reported to have useful secondary compounds such as flavonoids, steroids, phenolics, terpenoids, and these plants impart medicinal values including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-HIV activities. This book contains comprehensive contributions compiled by expert scientists and researchers in this field.The book offers a useful resource for plant biotechnologists, plant biologists, pharmacologists, pharmacists, food technologists, nutritionists, research investigators of the healthcare industry, academia, faculty, and students of biology and biomedical sciences. It also provides a strategic framework for further research and development activities of bryophytes and pteridophytes of the world.

For some 50 years, Professor Asakawa and his group have focused their research on the chemical constituents of bryophytes and have found that these plants contain large numbers of secondary metabolites, such as terpenoids, acetogenins, and aromatic compounds representative of many new skeletons, which exhibit interesting biological activities. Individual terpenoids, when found as constituents of both a bryophyte and a higher plant, tend to occur in different enantiomeric forms. Professor Asakawa has covered the literature on bryophytes in two earlier volumes of Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, namely, Volumes 42 (1982) and 65 (1995). Since the publication of the latter volume, a great deal of new information has appeared on bryophytes. One example is that known sex pheromones of algae have been discovered in two liverworts, indicating that some members of the latter taxonomic group might originate from brown algae. From information provided in this volume, it is suggested that two orders of the Marchantiophyta should be combined.

Useful throughout history for their medical as well as other benefits, plant-derived compounds have gained particular importance recently, due to environmental factors. The isolation and characterization of plant products, the identification of their role in the plant, and ways of synthesizing identical compounds or more potent analogues are covered. Also includes methods of culturing plant tissues and genetic engineering as a means of increasing the yield of desired substances from plants. Special emphasis is placed on plants previously unknown to Western scientists.

Evolutionary Diversity as a Source for Anticancer Molecules discusses evolutionary diversity as source for anticancer agents derived from bacteria, algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperms. The book goes over the isolation of anticancer agents and the technologyenabled screening process used to develop anticancer drugs. The book also includes discussion of the nutraceuticals and natural productsderived from invertebrates that can be used as part of cancer treatment. Evolutionary Diversity as a Source for Anticancer Molecules also deals with some of the current challenges in the prevention of cancer as well as the side effects of conventional drugs used for cancer patients.This book is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists, biotechnologists, pharmacologists, and any member of the biomedicalfield interested in understanding more about natural products with anticancer potential. Discusses the application of natural products in place of conventional drugs to minimize the side effects in cancer treatment Explains the relation between evolutionary mechanisms and climate change for production of secondary metabolites

Proceedings of the 38th Annual Meeting at the Phytochemical Society of North America on Phytochemicals in Human Health Protection, Nutrition and Plant Defense, held July 26-31, 1998 in Pullman, WA, USA

The book presents a consolidated account of diverse research aspects of Indian Bryophytes presented during National Conference on Bryology held from 14-16 December, 1995 at National Botanical Research Institute Lucknow and includes invited lecturers and contributory research papers. The book mainly highlights the diversity of Bryophytes in India ; floristic account of liverworts and mosses of Pachmarhi (M.P.), Mt. Abu and Andaman Islands; SEM studies on the spores of Indian ;liverworth and mosses; biomonitoring of heavy metals by Bryophytes; recent advances in the chemistry of Indian liverworts and their antimicrobial properties.