Medicinal Plants and Natural Products: Bridging Tradition and Modern Therapeutics

Plants have always been a major part of man’s life when it comes to providing food, shelter and medicine. History is full of evidence of plant-made medicines. This knowledge of the therapeutic effect of plants has been passed from generation to generation by our ancestors. In these modern times, several populations rely on phytomedicine for safe treatment. Plants have been a great part of Ayurveda, Unani and Traditional Chinese Medicine systems. Plants contain active biological compounds known as phytochemicals, which are responsible for therapeutic activity. Conventional medicines are more science-backed, but still, we cannot deny the potential of traditional plant medicine. A number of conventional medicines are derived from therapeutic plants. Combining conventional therapy with traditional phytomedicine is a modern approach with more efficacy and fewer side effects. Careful selection and preparation of plants for medicine according to the instructions of the WHO is crucial for meeting society’s need for phytotherapy. More clinical studies are required to check the safety and effectiveness of natural medicines.