Author’s Blurb TK Lim (Tong Kwee Lim) obtained his Bachelor products into and out of Australia for the Middle and Masters in Agricultural Science from the East and Asian region. During his time with University of Malaya and his PhD (Botanical ACIAR, he oversaw and managed international Sciences) from the University of Hawaii. He research and development programmes in plant worked in the University of Agriculture Malaysia protection and horticulture covering a wide array for 20 years as a lecturer and Associate Professor; of crops that included fruits, plantation crops, as Principal Horticulturist for 9 years for the vegetables, culinary and medicinal herbs and Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, spices mainly in southeast Asia and the Pacifi c. Darwin, Northern Territory; 6 years as Manager In the course of his four decades of working of the Asia and Middle East Team in Plant career, he has travelled extensively worldwide to Biosecurity Australia, Department of Agriculture, many countries in South Asia, East Asia, south- Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; and 4 years as east Asia, Middle East, Europe, the Pacifi c Research Program Manager with the Australian Islands, the United States and England, and also Centre for International Agriculture Research throughout Malaysia and Australia. Since his ter- (ACIAR), Department of Foreign Affairs and tiary education days, he always had a strong pas- Trade, Australia, before he retired from public sion for crops and took an avid interest in edible service. He has published over 100 scientifi c and medicinal plants. Over the four decades, he papers including several books: ‘Guava in has taken several thousands of photographs of Malaysia: Production, Pest and Diseases’, common, known and lesser known edible, medic- ‘Durian Diseases and Disorders’, ‘Diseases of inal and non-medicinal plants, amassed local lit- Mango in Malaysia’, chapters in books, interna- erature, local indigenous knowledge and books tional refereed journals, conference proceedings and has developed and established close rapport (as editor) and technical bulletins in the areas of with many local researchers, scientists, growers plant pathology, crop protection, horticulture, and farmers during the course of his work and agronomy and quarantine science. He was also a travels. All relevant available and up-to-date reviewer of scientifi c papers for several interna- information collated on more than 1,000 species tional scientifi c journals. As Principal of edible, medicinal and non-medicinal plants Horticulturist in Darwin, he and his team were will be provided in a comprehensive reference instrumental in establishing the horticultural series fully illustrated with coloured images to industry in the Northern Territory, Australia, help in plant identifi cation. This work will cover especially on tropical fruits, vegetables, culinary scientifi c names, synonyms, common and ver- herbs, spices/medicinal herbs and tropical fl ow- nacular names, origin and distribution, agroecol- ers. During his tenure with Plant Biosecurity, he ogy, edible plant parts and uses, plant habit/ led a team responsible for conducting pest risk description, nutritive and medicinal value, other analyses and quarantine policy issues dealing uses and selected current references. Additional with the import and export of plants and plant information is provided on the medicinal uses T.K. Lim, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants: Volume 8, Flowers, 877 DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8748-2, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 878 Author’s Blurb and pharmacological properties of the plants. horticulturists, food nutritionists, agriculturists, This work will be of signifi cant interest to botanists, herbalogists, herbologists, naturalists, scientists, researchers, practitioners (medical conservationists, extension scientists, teachers, practitioners, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, lecturers), students and the general public. Medical Glossary AAD Allergic airway disease, an infl ammatory Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Is an enzyme disorder of the airways caused by allergens . that degrades (through its hydrolytic activity) AAPH 2 , 2 ′-Azobis(2- amidinopropane) dihydro- the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, producing chloride, a water- soluble azo compound used choline. extensively as a free radical generator, often in Acidosis Increased acidity, an excessively acid the study of lipid peroxidation and the charac- condition of the body fl uids. terization of antioxidants. Acne Vulgaris Also known as chronic acne, Abdominal Distension Referring to generalized usually occurring in adolescence, with come- distension of most or all of the abdomen. Also dones (blackheads), papules (red pimples), referred to as stomach bloating often caused nodules (infl amed acne spots) and pustules by a sudden increase in fi bre from consump- (small infl amed pus-fi lled lesions) on the face, tion of vegetables, fruits and beans. neck and upper part of the trunk. Abeta Aggregation Amyloid beta protein (Abeta) Acquired Immunodefi ciency Syndrome (AIDS) aggregation is associated with Alzheimer’s An epidemic disease caused by an infection disease (AD); it is a major component of the by human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV-1, extracellular plaque found in AD brains. HIV-2), a retrovirus that causes immune system Ablation Therapy The destruction of small areas failure and debilitation and is often accompa- of myocardial tissue, usually by application of nied by infections such as tuberculosis. electrical or chemical energy, in the treatment Acridone An organic compound based on the of some tachyarrhythmias. acridine skeleton, with a carbonyl group at the Abortifacient A substance that causes or induces 9 position. abortion. ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone (or corti- Abortivum A substance inducing abortion. cotropin), a polypeptide tropic hormone pro- Abscess A swollen infected, infl amed area fi lled duced and secreted by the anterior pituitary with pus in body tissues. gland. It plays a role in the synthesis and ABTS 2.2 Azinobis-3-ethylhenthiazoline- 6- secretion of gluco- and mineralo-corticosteroids sulphonic acid, a type of mediator in chemical and androgenic steroids. reaction kinetics of specifi c enzymes. ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) Also A C A T Acyl CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase. known as ‘corticotropin’, is a polypeptide ACE See angiotensin-converting enzyme. tropic hormone produced and secreted by the Acetogenins Natural products from the plants of the anterior pituitary gland. family Annonaceae; are very potent inhibitors of Activating Transcription Factor (ATF) A protein the NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I) (gene) that binds to specifi c DNA sequences activity of mammalian mitochondria. regulating the transfer or transcription of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) Enzyme that information from DNA to mRNA. catalyses the biotin- dependent carboxylation Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) A heterodimeric of acetyl-CoA to produce malonyl-CoA. protein transcription factor that regulates gene T.K. Lim, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants: Volume 8, Flowers, 879 DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8748-2, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 880 Medical Glossary expression in response to a variety of stimuli, glutamate, while the A2B and A3 receptors are including cytokines, growth factors, stress and located mainly peripherally and are involved bacterial and viral infections. AP-1 in turn in infl ammation and immune responses. regulates a number of cellular processes ADH See alcohol dehydrogenase. including differentiation, proliferation and Adipocyte A fat cell involved in the synthesis apoptosis. and storage of fats. Actoprotective Increasing the body’s physical Adipocytokine Bioactive cytokines produced by performance. adipose tissues. Actoprotectors Preparations that increase the Adiponectin A protein in humans that modulates mental performance and enhance body stabil- several physiological processes, such as ity against physical loads without increasing metabolism of glucose and fatty acids, and oxygen consumption. Actoprotectors are immune responses. regarded as a subclass of adaptogens that hold Adipose Tissues Body fat, loose connective a signifi cant capacity to increase physical tissue composed of adipocytes (fat cells). performance. Adrenal Glands Star-shaped endocrine glands Acute Otitis Media (AOM) See otitis media. that sit on top of the kidneys. Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases A group of enzymes Adrenalectomized Having had the adrenal glands that catalyses the initial step in each cycle of surgically removed. fatty acid β-oxidation in the mitochondria of Adrenergic Having to do with adrenaline (epineph- cells. rine) and/or noradrenaline (norepinephrine). Adaptogen A term used by herbalists to refer to Adrenergic Receptors A class of G protein- a natural herb product that increases the coupled receptors that are targets of the nor- body’s resistance to stresses such as trauma, adrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline stress and fatigue. (epinephrine). Adaptogenic Increasing the resistance of the Adulterant An impure ingredient added into a body to stress. preparation. Addison’s Disease Is a rare endocrine disorder. Advanced Glycation End Products ( AGEs) It occurs when the adrenal glands cannot Resultant products of a chain of chemical produce suffi cient hormones (corticosteroids). reactions after an initial glycation reaction. It is also known as chronic adrenal insuffi - AGEs may play an important adverse role in ciency, hypocortisolism or hypocorticism. process