Exploring the Potential of Medicinal Plants in Phytomedicine

Phytomedicine refers to the use of plants to treat, diagnose and prevent diseases for thousands of years. Medicinal plants, often known as the traditional healers, are potentially rich in phytochemicals with promising pharmacological properties and therefore have been incorporated in traditional medicines. Various medicinal plants and trees are well known for their phytomedicinal benefits and are used in various drugs with lesser side effects. Active components like alkaloids, carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, proanthocyanins, sesquiterpenes, glycosides, saponins, volatile oils, minerals, etc. are present in medicinal plants. Some common medicinal plants are used widely such as Azadirachta indica (Neem), Murraya koinigii (Curry leaves), Emblica officinalis (Amla), Myrica esculenta (Kaphal, Bayberry), Terminalia bellerica (Bahera), Terminalia chebula (Haritaki), Mimosa pudica (Humble plant), and Phyllanthus niruri. In this chapter, some phytomedicinal plants and their medicinal properties as well as efficacy are reviewed and discussed.