Phytochemicals: Their Role in the Modern Era

Before the availability of synthetic drugs, humans were completely dependent on medicinal herbs for prevention and treatment of diseases. The use of the medicinal herbs for curing disease has been documented in the history of all civilizations. The drugs were used in crude forms like expressed juice, powder, decoction or infusion. Although formulations mentioned in ancient texts are difficult to understand in terms of scientific parameters, some of them are still reputed for their curative values.
Ancient healers who developed formulations based on medicinal herbs were probably not aware of the chemical composition of these herbs. Nevertheless, the advancement they made despite the non-availability of scientific procedures is astonishing. The work on Terminalia chebula (myrobalan) mentioned in Charaka Samhita is quiet authentic and modern studies have revealed that the purgative activity mentioned in Ayurveda is justified by the isolation of chebulic acid, the active constituent of myrobalan.Medicinal plants are a significant source of synthetic and herbal drugs in India and China and have been on the forefront when we talk about history of herbal drugs. The traditional systems of medicines: Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Western Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Homeopathy have roots in medicinal herbs. Herbal medicine has produced a number of distinguished researchers and due to its accessibility to traditions; it is still practiced even by lay practitioners.