Seminar organized by National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, New Delhi, India.

This book explains both the basic science and the applications of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals, with special emphasis on their clinical uses. The foundations of pharmaceutical biotechnology lie mainly in the capability of plants, microorganism, and animals to produce low and high molecular weight compounds useful as therapeutics. Pharmaceutical biotechnology has flourished since the advent of recombinant DNA technology and metabolic engineering, supported by the well-developed bioprocess technology. A large number of monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins have been approved, delivering meaningful contributions to patients’ lives, and the techniques of biotechnology are also a driving force in modern drug discovery. Due to this rapid growth in the importance of biopharmaceuticals and the techniques of biotechnologies to modern medicine and the life sciences, the field of pharmaceutical biotechnology has become an increasingly important component in the education of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists. This book will serve as a complete one-stop source on the subject for undergraduate and graduate pharmacists, pharmaceutical science students, and pharmaceutical scientists in industry and academia.

This work is a comprehensive information on the indigenous bioresources of North Eastern India with the scope of bioprospecting for discovery and commercialization of new sources and products and long-term ecological balance. The exploration, conservation and sustainable utilization of bioresources of world’s Megabiodiversity Hotspots are undeniable. North Eastern India is a recognised biodiversity hot spot where the evolutionary forces are at its optimum, making this region as centre of origin for many species. Although little bit exploratory studies have been conducted in this part of the globe but a scientific exploitation of the bioresources is almost lacking. Unscientific exploitation and overexploitation without proper knowledge of the bioresources may lead to imbalanced ecosystem of this mega diversity region. At the same time, very less exploration and exploitation will hamper biodiversity based development. Today, unscientific dramatic changes are underway in this region. Human activities are changing, degrading and destroying the bioresources in an unplanned manner. Scientific bioprospecting of the bioresources will boost the economy while ensuring conservation. This book offers comprehensive information about various levels of bioprospecting of the gene pool of this Indo-Burma Mega Biodiversity Hot Spot, the North East India, which is endowed with huge biodiversity potential for exploration and exploitation for the benefit of humankind. Also, this book highlights the less and merely explored part of the indigenous biodiversity of North East India with explanation towards their better sustainable exploitation for benefit of the people, economy and environment. The novelty of the book lies in expert coverage of the bioresources of this mega-diverse region including plants, microbes, insects etc. with provisions for their sustainable scientific utilization. This book portrays North East India as a melting pot of bioresources which are little explored and also those resources which are still to be explored. The book mainly highlights the bioprospecting approaches for North East Indian bioresources, and thus, it make itself a unique one in filling the knowledge gap that is there regarding the bioprospecting of the biodiversity of this special region on the earth. The book concludes by the ecotourism potential of this region. The target audiences for this book include biodiversity economists who are working on technology and bioresource management issues, and especially on biotechnology and biodiversity, development economists addressing the issues of bioresources in developing countries. These people may be in academia, in government, in non-governmental organizations and in private companies. The other target audiences group is policy scholars in government/public sectors who are interested in issues of biotechnology, IPRs, and biodiversity. In addition, scholars/experts in both development studies and resource management studies form another group of target audiences. Also, the book will be useful for the interaction between developed and developing nations regarding the issues of biodiversity and bioprospecting, as North Eastern India is the hub of Biodiversity.

‘Nagaland for Christ’ and ‘Jesus Saves’ are familiar slogans prominently displayed on public transport and celebratory banners in Nagaland, north-east India. They express an idealization of Christian homogeneity that belies the underlying tensions and negotiations between Christian and non-Christian Naga. This religious division is intertwined with that of healing beliefs and practices, both animistic and biomedical. This study focuses on the particular experiences of the Angami Naga, one of the many Naga peoples. Like other Naga, they are citizens of the state of India but extend ethnolinguistically into Tibeto-Burman south-east Asia. This ambiguity and how it affects their Christianity, global involvement, indigenous cultural assertiveness and nationalist struggle is explored. Not simply describing continuity through change, this study reveals the alternating Christian and non-Christian streams of discourse, one masking the other but at different times and in different guises.

India Has One Of The Oldest, Richest And Most Diverse Cultural Traditions Called Folk Tradition Associated With The Use Of Medicinal Herbs. Traditional Folk Medicine Is The Application Of Indigenous Beliefs, Knowledge, Skills And Cultural Practices Concerned With Human Health. The Ethnic People Have Provided Several Miracle Plants Of Medicinal Value To Modern Civilisation. The Present Book, Ethnomedicinal Plants, Contains 15 Articles On Different Aspects Of The Subject. The Book Contains Articles On Medicinal Plants In India And Their Conservation; Protection Of Traditional Knowledge; Medicinal Plants Of Nepal; And Ethno-Medico Botany Of Orissa And Some Parts Of Rajasthan. Articles On The Uses Of Plants In The Treatment Of Urinary Tract Diseases; Ethno-Veterinary Medicinal Plants And Plants In Healthcare During Pregnancy Include Some General And A Few Specific Medicinal Plants Of Great Importance. In Addition To This, General Articles, Namely, Ethnobotany Green Gold Branch Of Botanical Sciences And Modulation Of Radiosensitivity By Certain Plant And Plant Products, Etc. Have Added To The Value Of The Book. This Book Provides Excellent Glimpses Of The Rich Ethnomedicinal Heritage Of India. The Present Book Will Serve Not Only As An Excellent Reference Material But Also As A Practical Guide For Folk Healers, Vaidyas, Research Workers And Students In The Field Of Ethnobotany. Photographs On Front Of Jacket From Left To Right: 1St Row: Adhatoda Vasica, Solanum Nigrum, Abutilon Indicum, Ceterach Officinarum. 2Nd Row: Nardostachys Jatamansi, Selinum Candollei, Oryza Sativa, Cyperus Scarious 3Rd Row: Seeds Of Elaeocarpus Angustifolius, Abrus Precatorius, Celastrus Paniculatus, Vigna Unquiculata.

This new 5-volume set, Ethnobotany of India, provides an informative overview of human-plant interrelationships in India, focusing on the regional plants and their medicinal properties and uses. Each volume focuses on a different significant region of India, including Volume 1: Eastern Ghats and Deccan Volume 2: Western Ghats and West Coast of Peninsular India Volume 3: North-East India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Volume 4: Western and Central Himalaya Volume 5: The Indo-Gangetic Region and Central India With chapters written by experts in the field, the book provides comprehensive information on the tribals (the indigenous populations of the region) and knowledge on plants that grow around them. Each volume includes an introductory chapter with an overview of the region and then goes on to cover ethnic diversity and culture of the ethnic tribes plants used for healing and medical purposes for humans and animals ethnic food plants and ethnic food preparation specific information on the ethnomedicinal plants, the parts used, and the diseases cured other uses of plants by the ethnic tribes, such as for fiber, dyes, flavor, and recreation conservation, documentation, and management efforts of the ethnic communities and their plant knowledge The books include the details of the plants used, their scientific names, the parts used, and how the plants are used, providing the what, how, and why of plant usage. The volumes are well illustrated with over 100 color and 130 b/w illustrations. Together, the five volumes in the Ethnobotany of India series bring together the available ethnobotanical knowledge of India in one place. India is one of the most important regions of the old world, and its ancient and culturally rich and diverse knowledge of ethnobotany will be valuable to many in the fields of botany and plant sciences, pharmacognosy and pharmacology, nutraceuticals, and others. The books also consider the threat to plant biodiversity imposed by environmental degradation, which impacts cultural diversity.