Useful throughout history for their medical as well as other benefits, plant-derived compounds have gained particular importance recently, due to environmental factors. The isolation and characterization of plant products, the identification of their role in the plant, and ways of synthesizing identical compounds or more potent analogues are covered. Also includes methods of culturing plant tissues and genetic engineering as a means of increasing the yield of desired substances from plants. Special emphasis is placed on plants previously unknown to Western scientists.
