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Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 2nd edition 2003 AII rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilm ing, recording, or otherwise without written permission from the Publisher. AII papers, comments, opinions, conclusions, or recommendations are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.The author assumes no responsibility for, make no warranty with respect ro results that may be obtained from the uses or dosages listed, and does not necessarily endorse such uses or dosages and procedures. The author is not liable ro any person whatsoever for and damage resulting from reliance on any informat ion contained herein, whether with respect to plant identification, uses, procedures, dosages or by reason of any misstatement or error contained in this work. The author recognized that there are differences in varieties of plants, the geographicallocation in which they are grown, growing conditions, stage of maturity, and method of harvesting and preparat ion.This publicat ion is printed on acid-free paper. @ ANSI Z39.48-1984 (American Standards Institute) Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.

This volume of the series Medicinal Plants of the World: Chemical Constituents, Modern and Traditional Medicinal Uses contains information on 16 plant species and follows the same format as volumes 1 and 2. Some of the plants discussed in volume 3 may be considered controversial in their classification as "medicinal." However, the Paracelsian dictum that "sola dosis fecit venenum" has been appreciated since ancient times, and throughout the ages many highly toxic materials used for lethal purposes have also found applications in modern medicine. It has been recognized that plants contain substances that are either harmful or toxic. However, it is wrong to think that there are plant toxins that are known or that are likely to have adverse effects on any and every form of life. A common feature of most toxic plants is that they are also known for their curative properties, and although they may provide the cure for an individual's disease at one dose, they may cause the death of the same individual at another.Poisons are widespread in plants, and humans have tried to either get rid of them or convert them to their own advantage. By their very nature, poisons are biodynamic substances because they affect, or are intended to affect, the functioning of the victims' body. This also means that they have been, and are, important sources of medicine. With such potentially dangerous substances, it also means that care in medication is essential, and it raises the question of the relationship between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose. For full advantage to be taken of their properties, a combination of reliable sources of materials and effective methodologies is required to enable not only isolation of the substances responsible, but also the investigation of their mechanisms of action. As more sophisticated methods are evolved to elucidate their chemical and pharmacological natures, it will be possible to target more precisely the use of these substances as possible templates to produce medicinal agents.I am very grateful to a number of individuals for their valuable cooperation in this work. I owe sincere appreciation to Professor Ron Olowin of St. Mary's College of California for granting me permission to use his photograph of Plantago ovata and Mr. Gary Monroe of Reno, Nevada for sharing his picture of Larrea tridentata.

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