Eucalyptus or Humor

Eucalyptus: The Genus Eucalyptus

Author: John Coppen

Eucalyptus, a genus of over 800 species, is a multiproduct crop par excellence. Not only is it grown for timber, pulp and fuelwood, but it has numerous medicinal and aromatic properties. Since the first commercial distillation of eucalyptus oil 150 years ago, a vast array of eucalyptus-based products has entered the marketplace, mainly for pharmaceutical, fragrance and flavor use. Eucalyptus provides an invaluable reference for all those with an interest in Eucalyptus - in academia and industry alike, for researchers as well as producers, processors, importers and end users - but there are also issues discussed and lessons learned that extend to medicinal and aromatic plants. Contents Part 1. General Aspects 1. Botany of the Eucalypts 2. Eucalyptus, Water and the Environment 3. Eucalypts in Cultivation: An Overview 4. Genetic Improvement of Eucalypts: With Special Reference to Oil-Bearing Species 5. Eucalyptus Chemistry 6. Distillation of Eucalyptus Leaf Oils. Theory and Practice Part 2. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts Around the World: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils 7. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts in Australia: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils 8. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts in the People's Republic of China: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils 9. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts in Africa: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils 10. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts in South America: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils 11. Cultivation and Production of Eucalypts in India: With Special Reference to the Leaf Oils Part 3. Biological and End-Use Aspects 12. Chemistry and Bioactivity ofthe Non-Volatile Constituents of Eucalyptus 13. Antimicrobial Activity of Eucalyptus oils 14. Eucalyptus in Insect and Plant Pest Control: Use as a Mosquito Repellent and Protectant of Stored Food Products; Allelopathy 15. Chemical Ecology of Herbivory in Eucalyptus: Interactions Between Insect and Mammalian Herbivores and Plant Essential Oils 16. Eucalyptus Oil Products: Formulations and Legislation 17. Production, Trade and Markets for Eucalyptus Oils 18. Research Trends and Future Prospects Appendices: 1. Sources of Eucalyptus Seed 2. Estimates of Eucalypt Plantations Worldwide 3. Advice to a Prospective New Producer of Eucalyptus Oil or Other Leaf Extractive 4. Composition of Some Commercially Distilled Eucalyptus Oils 5. Quality Criteria and Specifications of Eucalyptus Oils 6. Packaging and Labeling Requirements for the Handling and Transportation of Eucalyptus Oils 7. Useful Addresses Contributors Ian R. Calder, University of Newcastle, UK John W. Turnbull and Trevor H. Booth both at CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, John C. Doran, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products, Australia, Joseph J. Brophy, University of New South Wales, Australia, Mr E.F.K. Denny, Denny, McKenzie Associates, Australia, Geoffrey R. Davis, G.R. Davis Pty Ltd, Australia, Shaoxiong Chen, China Eucalypt Research Centre, Paul A. Jacovelli, UK Laercio Couto, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Brazil, S.S. Handa, R.K. Thappa and S.G. Agarwal, Regional Research Laboratory, India, Takao Konoshima and Midori Takasaki, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Japan, Stanley G. Deans, Scottish Agricultural College, UK, Peter Golob, University of Greenwich, UK, Hiroyukiu Nishimura and Atsushi Satoh, Hokkaido University, Japan, Ivan R. Lawler, James Cook University of Queensland, Australia, William J. Foley, Australian National University, Judi Beerling, Steve Meakins and Les Small, Quest International, UK, John J.W. Coppen, UK, Erich V. Lassak, Phytochemical Services, Australia

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Michael Gabay, PharmD (University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy)
Description: This is one in a series of books that brings together information on medicinal and aromatic plants from a variety of sources. The book reviews several topics related to the genus eucalyptus including general aspects of the plant, cultivation and production, and biological and end use aspects. Unique elements in this book include in-depth reviews of research involving eucalyptus, concise illustrations, and a variety of appendixes covering topics from sources of eucalyptus seeds to quality criteria for eucalyptus oils.
Purpose: According to the authors, the purpose of this book and the whole series, is to summarize information related to medicinal and aromatic plants from a variety of references in one resource. Each book in the series gives an in-depth review of a single plant genus ranging from production of the plant to market trends and quality control. These are worthy objectives which the authors have met. There are few, if any, books on medicinal and aromatic plants that are as comprehensive for a single plant genus.
Audience: This book is written for anyone with a more specialized interest in, or performs research with, medicinal or aromatic plants. The book itself contains detailed scientific information regarding botany, genetics, chemistry, chemical ecology, and research trends. Eucalyptus is compiled by approximately 30 authors with a broad spectrum of expertise in the area of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Features: Eucalyptus covers a wide spectrum of topics including general botany of the genus, cultivation and production of the plant, formulations, clinical uses, and future research trends. The book is part of a series reviewing medicinal and aromatic plants a genus at a time. The concept behind the book is innovative due to the fact that few books exist bringing together as much useful information regarding a single medicinal plant. Each topic is presented in great detail with useful references, illustrations, and appendices. The appendices include information on sources of eucalyptus seeds, composition of commercially available oils, and packaging and labeling requirements for the oils. The main shortcoming of the book may be its limited range of audience appeal particularly in the Western world where familiarity and use of medicinal plants is still in its infancy.
Assessment: This is a high-quality, well-researched, detailed reference on the genus eucalyptus. For people with a specialized interest in medicinal or aromatic plants, all the books in this series would be viewed as extremely useful. For general clinical use however, practitioners may want to avoid this series of books and purchase a less specialized natural product reference such as the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database..

Rating

4 Stars! from Doody

Table of Contents:

	List of contributors
	Preface to the series
	Preface
Pt. 1	General aspects	1
1	Botany of the eucalypts	3
2	Eucalyptus, water and the environment	36
3	Eucalypts in cultivation: an overview	52
4	Genetic improvement of eucalypts: with special reference to oil-bearing species	75
5	Eucalyptus chemistry	102
6	Distillation of eucalyptus leaf oils: theory and practice	161
Pt. 2	Cultivation and production of eucalypts around the world: with special reference to the leaf oils	181
7	Cultivation and production of eucalypts in Australia: with special reference to the leaf oils	183
8	Cultivation and production of eucalypts in the People's Republic of China: with special reference to the leaf oils	202
9	Cultivation and production of eucalypts in Africa: with special reference to the leaf oils	216
10	Cultivation and production of eucalypts in South America: with special reference to the leaf oils	239
11	Cultivation and production of eucalypts in India: with special reference to the leaf oils	251
Pt. 3	Biological and end-use aspects	267
12	Chemistry and bioactivity of the non-volatile constituents of eucalyptus	269
13	Antimicrobial activity of eucalyptus oils	291
14	Eucalyptus in insect and plant pest control: use as a mosquito repellent and protectant of stored food products; allelopathy	304
15	Chemical ecology of herbivory in eucalyptus: interactions between insect and mammalian herbivores and plant essential oils	324
16	Eucalyptus oil products: formulations and legislation	345
17	Production, trade and markets for eucalyptus oils	365
18	Research trends and future prospects	384
	Appendices	405
1	Sources of eucalyptus seed	407
2	Estimates of eucalypt plantations worldwide	408
3	Advice to a prospective new producer of eucalyptus oil or other leaf extractive	412
4	Composition of some commercially distilled eucalyptus oils	414
5	Quality criteria and specifications of eucalyptus oils	416
6	Packaging and labelling requirements for the handling and transportation of eucalyptus oils	421
7	Useful addresses	424
	Subject index	427
	Eucalyptus species index	440

New interesting book: Oxford Book of Health Food or Hooked on Heroin

Humor: The Psychology of Living Buoyantly

Author: Herbert M Lefcourt

In his earlier work the author has studied stress and the personality characteristics that protect us from its effects on health and well-being. In this new book he places humor firmly within the literatures of coping processes, the moderation of stressful experiences, and health by showing how humor can help create and encourage feelings of community, closeness, and control. Lefcourt blends empirical research with anecdotal reports in this thoughtful volume.

Booknews

Using anecdotes to illustrate his empirical results, Lefcourt (University of Waterloo, Ontario) examines humor as a mechanism for coping with adversity. Chapters address topics like: the experience of humor in everyday life; early conceptions of humor in religion, medicine, philosophy, and psychology; the persuasiveness of humor; variations in the types and definitions of humor; the effects of stress on emotion and health; social cohesion; physiological stress responses; and, sex and humor. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)