Medicinal plants: Role, distribution and future

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used for healthcare since time immemorial. Application of plants to prepare medicine has been realized through hit and trail method, and gradually man became able to fulfill his needs from his surroundings. The use of medicinal plants was started by Japanese for carrying out rituals, food flavoring and treating various diseases. Studies have been carried out globally to verify their potential and some of the findings have given rise to what we call plant-based medicines. Being an important source of medicine, these plants have always been of utmost importance in virtually all cultures of civilizations. Medicinal plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and not only this but these plants serve as an important source for many modern medicines as well. It is the presence of secondary metabolites which is responsible for their characteristic features. By standardizing the health of active plant-derived compounds, herbal drugs can provide a huge platform for the healthcare system to treat human diseases in the future. Nowadays many people are using herbal medicines as a substitute to synthetic drugs but there are still some concerns about the safety of using them. Addressing them will make it possible for us to use the medicinal plants effectively and more efficiently.