Medicinal plants are important for human health. These plantshave been used from the prehistoric times to present day. These plants basedmedicines are consumed in all civilizations. It is believed that the herbalmedicine can give good effect to body without causing side effects to humanlife. Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditionalmedicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health securityto a large segment of Indian population. Medicinal plants constitute a largesegment of the flora, which provide raw materials for use by variousindustries. They have been used in the country for a long time for theirmedicinal properties. These plants are staging a comeback and herbalrenaissance is happening all over the globe. The herbal medicines today symbolizesafety in contrast to the synthetics that are regarded as unsafe to human andenvironment. Although herbs had been priced for their medicinal, flavoring andaromatic qualities for centuries, the synthetic products of the modern agesurpassed their importance, for a while.
However, the blind dependence on synthetics is over andpeople are returning to the naturals with hope of safety and security. Besides,the usage of medical plants has been increasing as an important role that cansupport the economic system.
Ayurveda, the well-known indigenous system of medicine, isstill regarded as a well organized traditional health care for large sectionsof rural as well as urban population of India. The medicinal plants sector atpresent is not well organized and needs special attention. Although differentMinistries and Department in the Government sector and NGOs and individuals inthe private sectors are making their efforts in different directions, yet thereis a need to co ordinate and systematize. The medical plants for health areused as herbal treatments and therapies that can be new habits for culture. Themarket is very competitive and could easily be oversupplied.
This book basically deals with therapeutic potential of medicinal plants,medicinal plants priorities in Indian medicines diverse studies andimplications, recent developments of some natural products, production andmanagement of medical plants on farms, classification, identification andnaming of medicinal plants, pests and pest management in medicinal plants,Ajmalicine (Raubasine): a medicinally important alkaloid from catharanthusroseus (vinca rosea), cultivation of rutin bearing eucalyptus species, iridoidsand secoiridoids of the genus swertia, studies on medico ethnobotany, tropicalperiwinkle, tulsi, etc.