Author Description

The old saying “no prescription can be made without Yunnan medicinal materials” suggests the profound heritage and extensive influence of Yunnan's ethnic medicine culture and medicinal plant resources. This book, A Companion Volume to Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms of Yunnan Province of China, continues the systematical introduction of the plant morphological characteristics, medicinal history, resource situation, traditional uses, ethnopharmacology, phytochemicals, pharmacological effects, biosynthesis, and sustainable utilization of some important or endemic medicinal plants and mushrooms of Yunnan Province of China, including Amomi Fructus, Amomum tsaoko, Angelica sinensis, Aucklandia costus, Gentiana rigescens, Phyllanthus emblica, and Polygonatum kingianu, Tricholoma matsutake, etc. Furthermore, this book offers strategies and advice for sustainable utilization and rational exploitation of medicinal plant resources in Yunnan, drawing on the basis of the author's years of practice in the field. Reviews species-specific natural products discovered from Yunnan medicinal plants, and their bio-activities. Provides a brief introduction to the commercial drugs and health products developed based on these medicinal plants. Discusses the resource availability and conservation status of these medicinal plants. For those threatened species, the causes of their endangerment are summarized and conservation strategies are proposed. Enhances understanding with high-quality original photographs and illustrations of the plants, their habitats, and usage in traditional remedies.