The crude drugs have contributed to a great extent in the preservation of health and cure of human diseases at such time when no other remedies were available. Plants have provided drugs like digoxin, digitoxin, vincristine, vinblastine, reserpine, morphine, quinine etc. on one hand and raw materials like diosogenin or solasodine for the synthesis of anabolic, estrogenic and androgenic steroids on the other hand. However, there is still a need for more drugs to serve the masses in India and abroad. This is possible through intensive investigations of a large number of plants so far not studied. The present volume Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of the series Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants is based on this rationale. ?The volume provides detailed studies on phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of many plants of therapeutic value. Extensive review on antidiabetic drugs from plants sources, herbal drugs used in ulcer, hepatic disorders, antiproliferative activity, anthelmintic activity, memory enhancement and a review on saffron and spices are the important features of the volume.