The use of minerals and plant-based medicines are believed to date back to prehistoric medicine. The first use of drugs to treat cancer, however, was in the early 20th century, although it was not originally intended for that purpose. Mustard gas was used as a chemical warfare agent during World War I and was studied further during World War II. During a military operation in World War II, a group of people were accidentally exposed to mustard gas and were later found to have very low white blood cell counts. This book explains a detail about the developments of anticancer drugs from plants to synthetic and from old times to recent. This book is a collection of various reviews which helps readers of all ares to understand

Mannich bases are very important and constructive compounds in organic synthesis, especially their role in biochemistry and natural products is of capital importance. A lot of work is going on over the synthesis, characterization and investigation of bioactivity of these compounds. In The present communication some novel Mannich bases derived from various aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines with 2- butanone are reported with their biological role. The surprising spectra results showed some Schiff base formation along with the Mannich bases and this eventually establish a new method for the preparation of Schiff bases through acid catalyzed reaction first time. The novelty and biological role of these Mannich and Schiff bases are also reported here in this communication.