Obesity is a complex health problem, caused by a number of factors such as excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders, medications and psychiatric illnesses. The incidence of obesity among populations in both the developing and the developed world has reached epidemic proportions. In response to this, efforts to control and treat obesity have also been vigorously pursued, ranging from activities focused on raising awareness about lifestyle changes to the discovery and development of safe and effective anti-obesity drugs. Anti-obesity Drug Discovery and Development is a book series focused on this very important area of healthcare research. Each volume presents insightful updates on pharmaceutical research and development for clinical researchers and healthcare professionals involved in obesity treatment programs. The fifth volume of this series is a compilation of 6 reviews of interesting topics on the subject that highlight different aspects of obesity treatment and management, some of which are novel approaches. Topics covered in this volume include: - the effect of sleep on weight and obesity management - AMPK as a postulated target for metabolic syndrome and obesity - Harnessing addiction neuroscience to treat obesity - Current treatment of obesity versus the next generation of anti-obesogenic drugs: an ecologically and sustainable approach to health - Leptin and leptin sensitizers for the treatment of obesity related conditions - MicroRNAs as targets for the management of obesity

Herbal Medicine: Back to the Future compiles expert reviews on the application of herbal medicines (including Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicines and alternative therapies) to treat different ailments. The book series demonstrates the use of sophisticated methods to understand traditional medicine, while providing readers a glimpse into the future of herbal medicine. This volume presents reviews of plant based therapies useful for treating different infectious diseases. The list of topics includes some niche reviews in this area including a review of the neem plant, the historical use of herbs in infectious disease therapy in Russia, and natural remedies from garlic, among other topics., The topics included in this volume are: - Improving anti-microbial activity of allicin and carvacrol through stabilized analogs and nanotechnology - Plant phenolics as an alternative source of antimicrobial compounds - Herbal medicine in Russia’s history: the use of herbal medicine for infectious diseases in Russia’s history - Azadirachta indica (neem) in various infectious diseases - Contribution of novel delivery systems in the development of phytotherapeutics This volume is essential reading for all researchers in the field of natural product chemistry and pharmacology. Medical professionals involved in internal medicine who seek to improve their knowledge about herbal medicine and alternative therapies for tropical and other infectious diseases will also benefit from the contents of the volume.