From Herbs to Healing

Dr. Éva Franciska Szöke, Professor emerita, teaches and conducts research in the Institute of Pharmacognosy of Semmelweis University, Budapest. She was director of the Institute from 1996-2009 and chairwoman of the Doctoral (PhD) School of Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2000-2014. In recognition of her many decades of scientific work she was rewarded a Gold Seal Ring by Semmelweis University in 2009. Scientific titles: Degree in biology and chemistry from Eötvös Loránd Univers-ity, Budapest (1968), University doctor's degree in natural sciences (1973), Ph.D. in biological sciences (1978), Dr. pharm. habil. in the field of pharmacognosy (1993), D.Sc. in biology from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2000).Dr. Szöke's work in education has led to improvements in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, particularly the development of new curricula for pharmacognosy and pharmaceutical biotechnology, taking into consideration the European harmonisation. She has been an invited lecturer at many foreign universities (e.g. Alexandria, Heidelberg, Jena, Petersburg, Padua, Tanta).  Her research activities have focussed on optimising the formation of pharmacologically active compounds of natural origin by influencing gene functioning or via gene transformation. Special mention should be made of research grants financed by the European Union. Her results have appeared in 500 papers, conference proceedings and book chapters published by international publishers (e.g. Springer, Harwood). She has also edited eight scientific books. Éva Szöke is a member of the editorial boards of numerous international journals and of several scientific committees. Her achievements have also been recognised by the award of the Greguss and Augustin Memorial Medals, the title of Outstanding Ph.D. Tutor and the Master Teacher Gold Medal.

Foreword.- Acknowledgement.- Chapter I. DEVELOPMENTS IN KNOWLEDGE OF PLANT DERIVED NATURAL PRODUCTS PHARMACOGNOSY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.- Chapter II. QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR HERBAL DRUGS; ANALYTICAL METHODS.- Chapter III. BIOSYNTHESIS OF PLANT SUBSTANCES; BIOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS.- Chapter IV. DISCUSSION OF HERBAL DRUGS BASED ON THE BIOGENETIC CLASSIFICATION OF THEIR MAIN ACTIVE COMPONENTS.- Chapter V. BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF COMPOUNDS OF PLANT ORIGIN.- Chapter VI. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY.- Chapter VII. APPENDIX.- Abbreviations.