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 programs in plant pro- worked in the University of Agriculture Malaysia tection and horticulture covering a wide array of for 20 years as a lecturer and Associate Professor; crops that included fruits, plantation crops, veg- as Principal Horticulturist for 9 years for the etables, culinary and medicinal herbs and spices Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, mainly in southeast Asia and the Pacifi c. In the Darwin, Northern Territory; 6 years as Manager course of his four decades of working career he of the Asia and Middle East Team in Plant has travelled extensively worldwide to many Biosecurity Australia, Department of Agriculture, countries in South Asia, East Asia, southeast Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; and 4 years as Asia, Middle East, Europe, the Pacifi c Islands, Research Program Manager with the Australian USA and England, and also throughout Malaysia Centre for International Agriculture Research and Australia. Since his tertiary education days (ACIAR), Department of Foreign Affairs and he always had a strong passion for crops and took Trade, Australia before he retired from public an avid interest in edible and medicinal plants. service. He has published over a hundred scien- Over the four decades, he has taken several tifi c papers including several books: “Guava in thousands of photographs of common, known Malaysia: Production, Pest and Diseases”, and lesser known edible, medicinal and non- “Durian Diseases and Disorders”, “Diseases of medicinal plants, amassed local literature, local Mango in Malaysia”, chapters in books, interna- indigenous knowledge, books, and has developed tional refereed journals, conference proceedings and established close rapport with many local (as editor) and technical bulletins in the areas of researchers, scientists, growers and farmers plant pathology, crop protection, horticulture, during the course of his work and travels. All agronomy and quarantine science. He was also a relevant available and up-to-date information reviewer of scientifi c papers for several inter- collated on more than a thousand species of national scientifi c journals. As Principal edible, medicinal and non-medicinal plants will Horticulturist in Darwin, he and his team were be provided in a comprehensive reference series instrumental in establishing the horticultural fully illustrated with coloured images to help industry in the Northern Territory, Australia, in plant identifi cation. This work will cover especially on tropical fruits, vegetables, culinary scientifi c names, synonyms, common and herbs, spices/medicinal herbs and tropical fl ow- vernacular names, origin and distribution, agro- ers. During his tenure with Plant Biosecurity, he ecology, 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 infor mation is provided on the medicinal uses T.K. Lim, Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 7, Flowers, 959 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7395-0, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 960 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 Acetyl- CoA Carboxylase (ACC) Enzyme that disorder of the airways caused by allergens. catalyzes the biotin-dependent carboxylation AAPH 2 , 2 ′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydro- of acetyl- CoA to produce malonyl- CoA. chloride. A water- soluble azo compound used Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) Is an enzyme extensively as a free radical generator, often in that degrades (through its hydrolytic activity) the study of lipid peroxidation and the charac- the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, producing terization of antioxidants. choline. Abeta Aggregation Amyloid beta protein Acne Vulgaris Also known as chronic acne, usu- (Abeta) aggregation is associated with ally occurring in adolescence, with comedones Alzheimer’s disease (AD); it is a major com- (blackheads), papules (red pimples), nodules ponent of the extracellular plaque found in AD (infl amed acne spots) and pustules (small brains. infl amed pus-fi lled lesions) on the face, neck Abdominal Distension Referring to general- and upper part of the trunk. ized distension of most or all of the abdomen. Acidosis Increased acidity, an excessively acid Also referred to as stomach bl oating often condition of the body fl uids. caused by a sudden increase in fi bre from con- Acquired Immunodefi ciency Syndrome (AIDS) sumption of vegetables, fruits and beans. An epidemic disease caused by an infection Ablation Therapy The destruction of small by human immunodefi ciency virus (HIV-1, areas of myocardial tissue, usually by applica- HIV-2), retrovirus that causes immune system tion of electrical or chemical energy, in the failure and debilitation and is often accompa- treatment of some tachyarrhythmias. nied by infections such as tuberculosis. Abortifacient A substance that causes or induces Acridone An organic compound based on the abortion. acridine skeleton, with a carbonyl group at the Abortivum A substance inducing abortion. 9 position. Abscess A swollen infected, infl amed area fi lled ACTH Adrenocorticotropic hormone (or corti- with pus in body tissues. cotropin). A polypeptide tropic hormone pro- ABTS 2.2 Azinobis-3-ethylhenthiazoline-6-sul- duced and secreted by the anterior pituitary fonic acid. A type of mediator in chemical gland. It plays a role in the synthesis and reaction kinetics of specifi c enzymes. secretion of gluco- and mineralocorticoste- ACAT Acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase. roids and androgenic steroids. ACE See Angiotensin- Converting Enzyme. Activating Transcription Factor (ATF) A protein Acetogenins Natural products from the plants (gene) that binds to specifi c DNA sequences of the family Annonaceae and are very regulating the transfer or transcription of potent inhibitors of the NADH-ubiquinone information from DNA to mRNA. reductase (Complex I) activity of mammalian Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) A heterodimeric mitochondria. protein transcription factor that regulates gene T.K. Lim, Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 7, Flowers, 961 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7395-0, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 962 Medical Glossary expression in response to a variety of stimuli, other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and including cytokines, growth factors, stress glutamate, while the A2B and A3 receptors are and bacterial and viral infections. AP-1 in turn located mainly peripherally and are involved regulates a number of cellular processes in infl ammation and immune responses. including differentiation, proliferation and ADH See Alcohol Dehydrogenase. apoptosis. Adipocyte A fat cell involved in the synthesis Actoprotective Increasing the body’s physical and storage of fats. performance. Adipocytokine Bioactive cytokines produced by Actoprotectors Preparations that increase the adipose tissues. mental performance and enhance body stabil- Adiponectin A protein in humans that modu- ity against physical loads without increasing lates several physiological processes, such as oxygen consumption. Actoprotectors are metabolism of glucose and fatty acids, and regarded as a subclass of adaptogens that hold immune responses. a signifi cant capacity to increase physical Adipose Tissues Body fat, loose connective performance. tissue composed of adipocytes (fat cells). Acute Otitis Media (AOM) See Otitis Media. Adaptogen Containing smooth pro- stressors Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenases A group of enzymes which reduce reactivity of host defense sys- that catalyzes the initial step in each cycle of tems and decrease damaging effects of various fatty acid β-oxidation in the mitochondria of stressors due to increased basal level of medi- cells. ators involved in the stress response. Adaptogen A term used by herbalists to refer Adrenal Glands Star-shaped endocrine glands to a natural herb product that increases the that sit on top of the kidneys. body’s resistance to stresses such as trauma, Adrenalectomized Having had the adrenal glands stress and fatigue. surgically removed. Adaptogenic Increasing the resistance of the Adrenergic Having to do with adrenaline (epineph- body to stress. rine) and/or noradrenaline (norepinephrine). Addison’s Disease Is a rare endocrine disorder. Adrenergic Receptors A class of G protein- It occurs when the adrenal glands cannot coupled receptors that are targets of the nor- produce suffi cient hormones (corticosteroids). adrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline It is also known as chronic adrenal insuffi ciency, (epinephrine). hypocortisolism or hypocorticism. Adulterant An impure ingredient added into a Adenocarcinoma A cancer originating in glan- preparation. dular tissue. Advanced Glycation