India is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity, has 15 agro-climatic zones. Out of the 17000-18000 species of flowering plants, more than 7000 are estimated to have medicinal usage in folk and documented systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homoeopathy .Medicinal plants are not only a major resource base for the traditional medicine & herbal industry but also provide livelihood and health security to a large segment of Indian population. About 1178 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in trade of which 242 species have annual consumption levels in excess of 100 metric tons/year.
Herbal drugs are essential components of traditional medicine in several countries including China and India. India has a well-established system of medicine known as Ayurveda. Ayurveda utilises plants, animal and minerals for the welfare of human beings. India is also a hot-spot of megabiodiversity. There is an urgent need to rationally utilise medicinal plants for curative purposes with proper maintenance of biodiversity. The government of India has taken several initiatives to develop technology for the effective conservation and efficient utilisation of medicinal plants, to coordinate research and developmental activities as well as to prepare databases. Priority of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, demand that the top 20 medicinal plants in India, plants be imported and exported from India vis-à-vis world demand. Scientific validation of pharmacological activity of age-old drugs used in Ayurveda reinforces faith in the traditional system, in which plants are selected only on the basis of experience. This review provides information on Indian herbal drug biodiversity, supply and demand, use of herbal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry and quality control methods required for the modern drug industry.
herbal remedies are popular complementary or alternative products for people. These are the supplements that are intended to supplement the diet and contain one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and other substances) or their constituents. These are intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid and are labeled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement. Such products may range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements, and diets to genetically engineered “designer” foods, herbal products, and processed foods such as cereals, soups, and beverages. These botanicals are sold in many forms as fresh or dried products, liquid or solid extracts, tablets, capsules, powders, tea bags, and so forth. For example, fresh ginger root is often used in various food stores; dried ginger root is sold packaged in tea bags, capsules, or tablets, and liquid preparations made from ginger root are also sold in the market. A particular group of chemicals or a single chemical may be isolated from a botanical and sold as a dietary supplement, usually in tablet or capsule form