Beta-glucan is a polysaccharide and an important food supplement that strengthens the immune system. Beta-glucan can be obtained from many food sources such as mushrooms, yeast, or oats. Beta-glucan has a therapeutic use in the treatment of many diseases, thanks to its immune system strengthening effect. Its use helps curtail the need for administering high levels of antibiotics in case of serious infections. This book presents information about the medical applications of beta-glucan. Starting with an introduction to the basic biochemistry and classification of beta-glucan, the contents explain the readers about its use in treating a variety of medical conditions. These include cancer, allergies, COVID-19, respiratory tract infections, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and many other other endocrinological, immunological and infectious diseases. This book is a comprehensive resource about the medical use of beta-glucan where any reader can find topical information and learn about recent studies on the therapeutic effects of beta-glucan on the treatment of different diseases.

Burns can cause life-threatening injury and the lengthy hospitalization and rehabilitations required in burn therapy lead to higher healthcare costs. The risk of infection has also been one of the important concerns of burn wound management. The purpose of the burn wound care management is speedy wound healing and epithelization to limit the infection. The topical application of therapeutic agents is quintessential for the longevity of patients having significant burns. In recent times, research on herbal medicine for burn wound management has been vastly increased because of their safer toxicological profiles in contrast to synthetic medicines. Despite the promising therapeutic potential of herbal medicines in this area, herbal medications have some limitations which include low pharmacological activity, solubility and stability. Nanotechnology-based smart drug delivery approaches which involve the use of small molecules as nanocarriers, however, can help to overcome these biopharmaceutical challenges. This book provides an overview of plant-mediated metallic nanoparticulate systems and nanophytomedicine based therapeutic treatment modalities for burn wound lesions. Nine chapters deliver updated information about nanomedicines for burn wound therapy. Contributions are written by experts in nanomedicine and phytomedicine and collectively cover the pathophysiology of wound lesions, current and future outlook of nanomedicine based treatments for burn wound lesions, the role of biocompatible nanomaterials in burn wound management, plant-mediated synthesis of metal nanoparticles for treating burn wound sepsis, phytomedicine based nanoformulations and the phyto-informatics models involved in the wound healing process which are used to select appropriate nanotherapeutic agents. This reference serves as an accessible source of information on the topic of nanomedicine for burn treatments for all healthcare professionals (medical doctors, nurses, students trainees) and researchers in allied fields (pharmacology, phytomedicine) who are interested in this area of medicine.

Postbiotics: Science, Technology, and Applications explains fundamental and applied knowledge about postbiotics. Chapters cover the definition and classification of postbiotics, principal methods for preparing them, information about the main postbiotic constituents and their biological activities and their clinical health benefits. The authors also familiarize the reader with potential applications of postbiotics in the food industry, pharmaceutical chemistry, medicine, and veterinary practice. The text is supported by informative illustrations, tables, and references for further reading. This comprehensive reference, with its emphasis on both basic and applied knowledge, is useful for researchers, academics, veterinarians, and students in the field of microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, biotechnology, food science, and agriculture.

Both Asia and Africa are home to many plants that can be used for the treatment of many diseases and their medicinal properties are gaining interest in western societies. Medicinal plants from Asia and Africa are used for their healing abilities and also have a symbolic meaning in communities. The importance of traditional autochthonous plant remedies plays a crucial role in the health of millions of people of these two continents. Even today, traditional medicine represents the dominant medical system for millions of people showing a significant impact on health care practices. Therefore, traditional operators still represent a vital part of regional healthcare systems. For this reason, pharmaceutical industries consider traditional medicine as a source for the identification of bioactive compounds that can be used in the preparation of synthetic drugs. Biologically Active Natural Products from Asia and Africa: A Selection of Topics guides the reader to information about new natural products from these regions and the different ways to use them to treat or alleviate many of the most common diseases. The volume presents nine topics covering a number of facets of natural product medicine including: - pharmaceutical analysis of anti-diabetic herbal medicines from Bangladesh and local retailers - caffeine intake and the risk of female infertility - pharmaceutical analysis of Urena sinuata (bur mallow) - anti-CHIKV activities of diterpenes and their derivatives - anti-inflammatory nanogel for the treatment of psoriasis - antlithiatic properties of Moroccan medicinal plants - ethnobotanic, phytochemical and biological activities of Aristolochia longa L. (pipevine) - wound healing potential of combined extracts of stem bark and leaves of sphenocentrum jollyanum (an African shrub) This is a handy reference for specialists and R&D experts in pharmaceutical chemistry who wish to be informed about current knowledge on developing natural remedies in Asia and Africa