Role of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the National Economy & Their Export Potential (Pharmacognosy | Ch-8): D Pharma 1st year Notes

Introduction

The term medicinal plant covers any plant — or part of a plant such as its fruit, seed, stem, bark, flower, leaf, stigma, or root — used for medicinal purposes. The word “herb” itself is derived from the Latin herba and the old French herbes.

India has been recognised since ancient civilisation as one of the richest repositories of medicinal plants in the world. Indian forests are the principal source of a large number of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are collected as raw materials for manufacturing drugs and perfumery products.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Approximately 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their healthcare.
• Around 21,000 plant species have the potential to be used as medicinal plants.
• Since 1999, WHO has published multiple volumes of monographs on selected medicinal plants to help standardise their use.

Over the past two decades, the use of herbal medicine has increased tremendously, though there remains a significant need for more research data in this field.

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Importance of Key Medicinal Herbs and Their Values

Wound Healing and Antimicrobial Herbs

• Black pepper, cinnamon, myrrh, aloe, sandalwood, and ginseng are used to heal wounds, sores, and boils.
• Turmeric inhibits the growth of harmful microbes and bacteria and is widely used as a home remedy for cuts and wounds.
• Honey, turmeric, marshmallow, and liquorice can effectively treat fresh cuts and wounds — these are termed vulnerary herbs.

Blood Purifiers and Immunity Boosters

• Many herbs act as blood purifiers — they alter long-standing conditions by eliminating metabolic toxins. These are also known as blood cleansers.
• Certain herbs improve the immunity of the person, thereby reducing conditions such as fever.

Antipyretic Herbs

• Herbs such as Chiraita, black pepper, and sandalwood are especially useful in reducing fever and controlling the production of heat in the body.

Digestive and Antacid Herbs

• Marshmallow root and leaf serve as antacids, helping retain the healthy gastric acid needed for proper digestion.
• Cardamom and coriander are renowned for their appetizing and digestive qualities.
• Chamomile, calamus, ajwain, basil, cardamom, coriander, fennel, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric promote good blood circulation and are used as cardiac stimulants.

Expectorant Herbs

• Ginger and cloves are key ingredients in cough syrups due to their expectorant property — they promote the ejection of mucus from the lungs, trachea, and bronchi.
• Eucalyptus, cardamom, wild cherry, and cloves are also well-known expectorants.

Kitchen Garden Herbs with Medicinal Value

• Basil, fennel, cilantro, apple mint, thyme, oregano, lemon, and rosemary are important medicinal herbs that can easily be grown in a kitchen garden.

Tonic and Bitters

• Aromatic plants such as aloe and Chirata are used as mild tonics. Their bitter taste reduces toxins in the blood and helps destroy infections.

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Future Economic Growth of Medicinal Plants

The economic potential of medicinal and aromatic plants continues to grow at a remarkable pace globally.

Global and regional usage:

• Worldwide, approximately 35,000–70,000 plant species have been used at one time or another for medicinal, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical purposes.
• In India, approximately 1,000 plant species are used medicinally.
• In Nepal, around 700 species are used.
• In Chinese medicine, approximately 9,905 plant materials are in use.

Economic significance: The value of medicinal plant-based products can be understood in two ways:

• Market value — a subset of economic value that reflects the commercial price of products in trade.
• Economic value — a broader measure representing all social benefits of a product, including market value and non-market benefits.

Medicinal plants and their derivatives have expanded well beyond traditional pharmacy into health foods, cosmetics, and personal care products containing natural ingredients. The demand for medicinal plants is growing exponentially worldwide.

The fastest-growing herbal products market is opening up new opportunities for developing countries — including India — to leverage the rising global trend of green consumerism and develop their export potential. There remains enormous scope for new plant-based drugs still to be discovered, and the economic significance of these future plant-based pharmaceuticals is considered substantial.