PERSPECTIVES IN MEDICINAL PLANTS (original) (raw)

India is a vast repository of medicinal plants which constitutes the main resource-base for the primary health care system in the country. According to World Health Organization (WHO) more than one billion people rely on herbal medicines. It is well known that all the major systems of medicines Ayurveda, Homoeopathy, Siddha, and Unani are largely based on the drugs ofplant origin. Consequently, the demand for herbal drugs is accelerating day by day due to the reasons that these are inexpensive, almost non-toxic and without any side effects. In view of the fact, there has been growing appreciation for the study, evaluation, utilization and then the conservation aspect of medicinal plants. The extensive explorations and scientific efforts of the people have enabled the discovery and development of new drugs from the plant sources for the treatment of ailing people and also for the domestic and industrial needs. Some of these plants are Taxus, Vinca, Artemisia, Thaumatococcus, Stevia, Sorbus, etc. In the present paper, an emphasis has been made on some aspects of medicinal and their allied plants covering historical background, their proper and correct identification, some plant-derived compounds, scientific approach for quality and quantity enhancement of active principles, ways and means of conservation, etc.