Phytochemistry of Australia's Tropical Rainforest
Medicinal Potential of Ancient Plants
By: Cheryll J Williams
An essential reference for those interested in the medicinal and botanical potential of rainforests.
Rare, unique and irreplaceable – precious native rainforests occupy a precariously small part of Australia while retaining a remarkable level of both biological and chemical diversity unrivalled by any other ecosystem. Australia's ancient history and traditions are intimately intertwined with the rainforest plants that humans have utilised as both food and medicine. + Full description
Phytochemistry of Australia's Tropical Rainforest is a record of this history and details how our understanding of these plants has led to the discovery of anaesthetics, analgesics, steroids, antimalarials and more. It provides an insight into the habitat, ecology and family associations of hundreds of species and explores their future therapeutic potential, alongside phytochemical studies of the ancient plant lineages. Toxicological evaluations of important poisonous plants are also included.
Rainforests provide shelter for unique flora and fauna that are counted among the rarest species on Earth, many of which are illustrated in this book. This comprehensive work is an essential reference for phytochemists, ethnobotanists and those with an interest in rainforests and their medicinal and botanical potential.
- Short descriptionNews
Sales in Australia and New Zealand only. Elsewhere, this title is available through CABI (external link).
Reviews
"I recommend this weighty and incredibly interesting book to anyone with an interest in plants. The wealth of information presented is impressive and well presented."
Glenn Leiper, Native Plants Queensland 2022
"As Williams also reminds us, any exploitation of that resource [rainforest plants] should be carried out in a way that respects nature and conserves the rainforest habitat for the future. Books such as PATR are therefore very important, and should also serve as a ‘wake-up’ call to everybody who values our so-called ‘natural capital’."
Nigel Chaffey, Botany One, 17 March 2022
Details
Hardback | December 2021 | $260.00ISBN: 9781486307586 | 584 pages | 270 x 210 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
B&W photographs, Colour photographs, Illustrations, Maps
ePDF | December 2021
ISBN: 9781486307593
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
ePUB | December 2021
ISBN: 9781486307609
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers
Features
- No other current book discusses medicinal and phytochemical aspects of ancient rainforest plants in Australia.
- Features colour illustrations that highlight many rare native species.
- Describes the value of rainforest plants in the current marketplace and their future therapeutic potential.
- Highlights the scientific achievements of Australian phytochemical research.
- Includes up-to-date phytochemical evaluations of the ancient plant lineages and toxicological evaluations of important poisonous plants.
Contents
Introduction1: Tropical Rainforests: Tales of Plunder and Protection
2: Primeval Links to the Modern World
3: Timeless Treasures: Gondwana and the Rainforest Refuge
4: Ancient Gymnosperms
5: Podocarps and Pines: Environmental Refugees
6: Magnoliids: Survivors from Prehistory
7: Myristica: Nutmeg and Mace
8: Antipodean Phytochemicals
9: Phytochemistry of the Laurels
10: Rare and Toxic Rainforest Walnuts
11: Annonaceae: Poisons, Parasites and Pesticides
12: Spices of Ancient Origins
13: Birthworts and Butterflies
Appendix: Ancient angiosperm plant families: plants with an ancient lineage native to the tropics of Northern Australia
Index
View the full table of contents (PDF, 75 KB)
Authors
Cheryll J Williams is a qualified acupuncturist and medical herbalist with more than 30 years' clinical experience. She holds post-graduate qualifications in nutritional medicine, homoeopathy and naturopathy. She currently co-runs a wildlife refuge in the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and is dedicated to conserving this environment.
Supplementary Material
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