Phytomedicine: History, scope and future prospects

Phytomedicine or herbal medicine has been playing a significant role in the treatment of diseases since time immemorial throughout human history. Medicinal plants are used as a medical resource in almost all cultures. Herbal medicines, which were the major source of remedy in the ancient system of medicine, have been employed in medical practices since antiquity. Herbal medication has gained importance in recent years because of its effectuality and cost effectiveness. This field is bringing forward new, safe and efficacious plant-based medicines. There has been increasing interest in the pharmaceutical industry to develop new medications from plants. During the past 50 years, great progress has been made in the chemical and biological techniques of analysis, which has transformed research in herbal medicine. Medicinal herbs/plants have an assured future since there are many plants around the globe, with most of them having not yet been studied in medical practice. Therefore, current and future studies on medical activities can be effective in treating diseases.