Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research in the 21st Century

Thomas Efferth Henry Johannes

doi:10.4172/2167-0412.1000e110

Thomas Efferth Henry Johannes

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-0412.1000e110

Copy DOI

Abstract

It has been estimated that 250,000 terrestrial plants contribute to biodiversity on earth. The chemodiversity of plants, however, may be considered to be much larger due to the vast number of phytochemical constituents with their wide range of bioactivity as seen in medicinal and aromatic plants. The present review focuses on the potential of medicinal and aromatic plants for medicinal, nutritional and other purposes, but highlights also possible toxicities. Quality control for standardization of herbal products as well as advancements in molecular biological techniques will foster the progress of medicinal and aromatic plant research in the years to come.

Highlights

The use of medicinal plants is as old the history of manhood
It has been speculated that ancient shamans and healers learned from apes by observing them while they were taking medicinal plants
The ancient knowledge on the beneficial activity of some plants was a privilege of shamans and healers and give reason to establish traditional medicines worldwide

Summary

Introduction

The use of medicinal plants is as old the history of manhood. Archaeological sites show plants for healing purposes as for example the Lascaux caves in France, which are between 15,000 and 27,000 years old [1]. The history of herbal medicine seems to have its very first roots in the animal kingdom. It has been speculated that ancient shamans and healers learned from apes by observing them while they were taking medicinal plants. These plants were taken by local human populations for medical purposes [2]. The ancient knowledge on the beneficial activity of some plants was a privilege of shamans and healers and give reason to establish traditional medicines worldwide. While many forms of traditional medicines were handed down orally from generation to generation for millennia [3,4,5], complex forms with written textbooks and education systems developed, e.g. in traditional Chinese medicine, Japanese Kampo medicine, or Ayurveda [6,7,8]

Secondary metabolites of medicinal plants

There is not only a remarkable biodiversity on earth with estimated

Essential oils of aromatic plants

Findings

Future perspectives