Genus Rheum (Polygonaceae) : A Global Perspective

Genus Rheum (Polygonaceae): A Global Perspective provides an integrative overview of a genus of highly valued medicinal herbs. It emphasizes in detail various aspects of research on Rheum, from its origin to conservation. The book evaluates the concepts, definitions, models, and findings involved in understanding its botany, ecology, chemistry, ethnobotany, pharmacology, and molecular biology as well as the employment of in vitro propagation strategies vis-à-vis its threat status as a conservation measure. It includes earlier approaches and the recent state-of-art biotechnological interventions to understand and modulate the pathways involved in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites of therapeutic significance, making it an essential guide and reference to a broader interdisciplinary readership. It also explores the pharmacological importance of Rheum vis-à-vis traditional utility and highlights different areas that need further research and exploration. Moreover, the book describes how this species has reached the brink of extinction and evaluates the role of different conservation strategies that have been employed from time to time. It also describes how in vitro propagation can serve as a means of its multiplication as well as for the generation of desired bioactive chemical constituents within a short time.

Features

• An integrated approach to elucidate the complex taxonomic history of genus Rheum across the world

• A repository for the traditional utility of rhubarb across cultures for a spectrum of simple to complex human ailments

• A rich source of findings and insights on phytochemicals reported to date with their potential use as therapeutic agents
• Elucidation of different genetic, cytological, and biotechnological interventions employed to understand its adaptability, acclimatization, and stability under tremendous natural and anthropogenic pressure
• Integration of available information, presented in a single lucid script easily accessible to students, researchers, and interested citizens across the world

Shahzad A. Pandith received his MSc in Botany from the University of Kashmir, Srinagar in 2009 and PhD in Plant Molecular Biology from CSIR Indian Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India in 2017. Since then, he is serving the Department of Botany, University of Kashmir as DST-INSPIRE Faculty (position equivalent to IITian Assisstant Professor). In this capacity, he is supervising a DST-sponsored project on one of the important medicinal herbs from NW Himalayas, Rheum. In general, Dr. Shahzad seeks to use various ‘omics’ approaches to elucidate and understand the basic biology of plants, important pathways operating in them and their modulation, rate limiting pathway genes and the regulatory factors controlling their constitutive/inducible expression vis-à-vis ecological/environmental factors and/or stress conditions. He has published about 15 research papers in highly reputed peer reviewed international journals with an average impact of about 3 per paper. Besides, he is an active reviewer of many reputed journals from well-known publishing houses like Springer, Elsevier and Brill, etc. Dr. Shahzad has many national level exams and awards to his credit, which include the Joint CSIR-UGC JRF and ICAR-ASRB NET exams, and the highly prestigious DST-INSA Inspire Faculty award.

Mohd Ishfaq Khan holds Bachelor’s degree in Science (B.SC) from the University of Kashmir, Srinagar and received his M.Sc degree in Botany from the same institution in 2015. Since 2017 he is actively engaged in a DST sponsord project at the University of Kashmir. His active areas of research include DNA barcoding, genetics, taxonomy and eco-physiology which he uses to understand and resolve the genetic/taxonomic complexity in high value medicinal herbs from NW Himalayas. He has some good research articles to his credit. Besides, he has qualified many competitive exams at state and national level including GATE-2019 (Gaduate Aptitude Test In Engineering) in the subject of Life Sciences. Mr. Ishfaq also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in the subject of Education and has been a good teacher-cum-motivator for children at higher secondary level.