Abstract:
The knowledge of Traditional Medicine and the medicinal plants, parts of plants and isolated phytoconstituents for prevention and treatment of various health ailments has been in use from time immemorial. Traditional medicine is being used as primary healthcare by about 65-80% of population in developing countries. It is also attracting attention in developed countries as an alternative to high cost modern drugs; for diseased condition with no or inadequate modern medicine and also being less toxic with fewer side effects as compared modern drugs. About 25% of drugs prescribed worldwide are derived from plants and 121 such active compounds are in use. Of the total 252 drugs in WHO essential medicine list 11% is exclusively of plant origin. In India about 80% of the rural population uses medicinal herbs or indigenous systems of medicine.
