Bioactives and Pharmacology of Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms are non-flowering vascular plants comprising more than 1,000 species across 83 genera. Since time immemorial, many have served as sources of traditional remedies for human diseases because of their diverse bioactive constituents and pharmacological properties. Their reported activities include antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective effects. Gymnosperms have also been used in traditional medicine for asthma, rheumatism, central nervous system disorders, wound healing, and other conditions, and they hold significant potential for further investigation in the discovery of new therapeutic compounds. In this new volume, each chapter focuses on a specific medicinal gymnosperm species or genus, detailing its phytochemistry, bioactive compounds, pharmacological activities, traditional uses, therapeutic potential, chemical constituents, and medical importance. Bringing together current knowledge on 23 medically important gymnosperms, the volume examines species from a broad range of genera, including Abies, Cupressus, Ephedra, Gnetum, Juniperus, Pinus, Cycas, Cedrus, Cryptomeria, and Podocarpus. The chapters explore the phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of such species as Abies sachalinensis, Abies alba, Cupressus sempervirens, Ephedra foliata, Pinus roxburghii, Pinus wallichiana, Cycas revoluta, Juniperus communis, Cryptomeria japonica, and Podocarpus macrophyllus, among others. The volume also considers ethnobotanical and traditional uses, active biomolecules, biological properties, chemical classes, and promising therapeutic applications. Together, these contributions highlight the rich chemical diversity of gymnosperms and their continuing importance as potential sources of natural products for pharmacological research and drug discovery. A comprehensive desk reference on the bioactives and pharmacology of gymnosperms, this volume will be a valuable sourcebook for scientists, researchers, industry professionals, faculty, and students interested in medicinal plants, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, natural products, and the development of new and effective drugs from medicinal gymnosperms.