Book excerpt: Natural Dyes : Scope and challenges is a comprehensive, thoroughly scientific, single source reference book on natural dye stuffs and dyeing. This book provides a detailed chemistry of all the available natural dyes and also of the food colors. Analytical methods including extraction, identification and estimation of the chemical components of these dyes, which will help in the production of quality dyes, are discussed. The applications of these dyes in pharmaceuticals, herbal cosmetics, paints and paintings also are explained. The challenges lying ahead due to the greater demand resulted from the ever-increasing acceptance and demand of these dyes and their solutions are discussed. Substitute sources, new chromophores, bioactivities including antioxidant potential and antimicrobial properties of the plant-derived dyes also are dovetailed. This book will serve as a reference book for students, teachers and workers of Textile dyeing, Textile chemistry, Clothing and textiles, Plant Sciences, Pharmacy and Fine Arts. It will also of great use for NGOs and farmers who would be interested in value-addition of their trees, commercial manufacturers of natural dyes and even to a layman interested in natural colors. D. Rathi