Environmental Contaminants and Medicinal Plants Action on Female Reproduction discusses the problem of environmental pollution, medicinal and food plants, and their impact on reproduction. The book describes the mechanisms of environmental contaminants' action, outlines the key causes of their harmful impact on reproduction, and explores what regulatory substances and processes should be targeted due to the negative effect of pollutants on reproduction. Furthermore, it describes the provenance, properties, physiological and therapeutic effects, and possible areas of application of the known medicinal and functional food plants and their constituents with a focus on female reproductive processes. This book will be a useful resource for reproductive biologists, specialists in assisted reproduction, animal production and phytotherapy, toxicologists, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical scientists, endocrinologists, medicinal and natural product chemists, nutritionists and others engaged in the study of environmental contaminants and medicinal and functional food plants.

This is a unique book which critically summarizes the current scientific knowledge concerning manifestations, mechanisms, consequences and prevention of dysfunctions of metabolism of fat, as well as the main known functional food and medicinal plants which can be and which cannot be used for prevention and treatment of obesity. The provenance, biologically active molecules, positive and adverse side-effects on health, influence on obesity and potential applicability of tea, chicory, Garcinia cambogia, Hoodia gordonii, chia, Irvingia gabonensis, apple cider vinegar, coffee, konjac/glucomannan, flaxseed, mulberry, oat, sweet and hot peppers, carob, cinnamon, plum, Cissus quadrangularis, Stevia rebaudiana, Yacon and ginger are described in details. In addition, less-known plants and plant molecules, as well as their combinations considered applicable for obesity treatments, are listed. It is demonstrated that more than half of the plant-based anti-obesity products available on the market are not properly clinically tested, or such tests, when performed, provided negative results. In addition, the author provides the reader with some practical advices and tips to combat obesity with healthy lifestyle. This book combines deep scientific analysis of physiological processes and popular form of their description. Such form enables to use this knowledge and advices for scientists, doctors, producers, distributers and consumers of functional food and medicinal plants, as well as for the common readers interested in healthy nutrition and life style.

This book represents an attempt to review the most recent knowledge concerning basic processes occurring in the most important female reproductive organ -- the ovaries and their regulators. The most important processes (ovarian cyclic changes and oogenesis), as well as their extracellular (hormones and growth factors) and intracellular (protein kinases, transcription factors, small RNAs) regulators are described. Data concerning processes or substances well described in previous reviews are summarised here in a short form with references to corresponding reviews.

This book represents an attempt to review the most recent knowledge concerning basic processes occurring in the most important female reproductive organ -- ovary and their regulators. The most important processes (ovarian cyclic changes and oogenesis), as well as their extracellular (hormones and growth factors) and intracellular (protein kinases, transcription factors, small RNAs) regulators are described. Data concerning processes or substances well described in previous reviews are summarised here in a short form with references to corresponding reviews.