Description

Medicinal plants have been the subjects of man’s curiosity since time immemorial. Up to 80% of populations in developing countries are entirely reliant on plants for their primary health care. And despite the notable progress in synthetic organic chemistry of the twentieth century, over 25% of prescribed medicines in developed and developing countries derive directly or indirectly from plants (Newman et al, 2000). According to Worid Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of the world’s population relies on traditional phytomedicines for their primary healthcare needs (Nitha et al, 2012). Modem synthetic medicine has its roots in ancient medicine and, as it has been till now, many important new remedies are being likely to be discovered and commercialized in the future by following the leads provided by traditional knowledge and experiences (Cragg et al, 2007