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Synopsis

Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry form the scientific foundation for understanding medicinal plants, natural products, and their therapeutic applications. With the growing global interest in herbal medicines, phytopharmaceuticals, and evidence-based traditional healthcare, a thorough knowledge of natural drugs has become an essential component of pharmaceutical education and research. This textbook has been prepared in accordance with the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) B.Pharm Semester II syllabus (BP205T) under the NEP-oriented curriculum. The primary objective of this book is to provide students with a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand presentation of the fundamental concepts of pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. The contents are arranged systematically, beginning with the introduction to medicinal plants, cultivation, collection, processing, and quality control, followed by the study of primary and secondary metabolites, extraction, isolation, identification, characterization techniques, phytochemical screening, chromatographic fingerprinting, and detailed pharmacognostic studies of important medicinal plants. Recent advances in herbal drug standardization and modern analytical techniques have also been incorporated to bridge classical pharmacognosy with contemporary pharmaceutical sciences.
Every chapter has been written in a simple, student-friendly language while maintaining scientific accuracy. Appropriate tables, flowcharts, diagrams, and illustrations have been included to facilitate better understanding and quick revision. The book is designed to serve not only undergraduate pharmacy students but also teachers, researchers, and professionals engaged in pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, herbal drug research, and pharmaceutical sciences. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information presented, constructive suggestions from teachers, students, and readers will always be welcome for improving future editions. We sincerely hope that this textbook will serve as a valuable academic resource and contribute to a better understanding of medicinal plants and their phytochemical constituents.