Apiaceae: Ecology, Uses and Toxicity

The Apiaceae are a large botanical family, with economically important taxa and medicinal interest due to their secondary metabolites. Despite the importance of Apiaceae plants, particularly for the management of CVDs (cardiovascular diseases), no systematic review has been conducted compiling the traditional uses ascribed to some of these species and the scientific studies validating the reported effects. Therefore, in the first chapter, a systematic review was carried out in order to gather the available information. In addition, the effects of isolated compounds, as well as the underlying mechanisms of action of both plant extracts and compounds was included. Also, the safety profile of Apiaceae extracts used to manage CVDs was highlighted. In the second chapter, the chemical composition, cultivation and uses of anethum graveolens (one of the species is the family Apiaceae) is explored. In the last chapter of the book, three poisonous plants (Conium maculatum, Cicuta sp. and Aethusacynapium. Conium maculatum) of the Apiaceae family are explored in detail.