In the modern world, interest in the therapeutic value of medicinal plants is getting revived and attention is being diverted to re-explore and re-evaluate the efficiency of herbal drugs for the treatment of various dreaded diseases including the emerging ones, as also for those which do not respond adequately to chemical drugs. Hence, herbal medicines are being advocated in the form of scientific pharmaceutical preparations which are manufactured and marketed in all countries. For example, one preparation which is manufactured in West Germany contains seeds of Plantago-Ovata, husk of Isphagula and pod of Tinnevelly Senna and is now used as a very useful remedy for treating chronic constipation. Another example of a well known herb (Brahmi Booti) centella asiatica which is manufactured in France and is used for the treatment of phlebitis, varicose, ulcers, bed sores, burn keloids and ulcerus lesions of leprosy, etc. Yet another product which is in liquid form prepared from the flower of camomile (Babuna) in West Germany is very useful for the treatment of Gastritis, Duodenitis, Duodenal Ulcer, Colitis, Proctitis and Hemorrhoids and externally in skin diseases. Similar to these, various other products are available for the treatment of different types of diseases.

In India, medicinal plants have remained in therapeutic use since a long time. The traditional systems dealing with herbal remedies serve about 80% of the population of our country. Today, the consumption of herbal medicine is increasing all over the world in both the developed and under-developed countries. If the research in this field receives the same vigorous attention and devoted efforts as that of 'synthetic chemistry', it will supply mankind with new compounds having new structures and will open up a new field for the treatment of some of the most serious, life threatening diseases like, Carcinoma and AIDS. The isolation of Vinablistine from vinca rosae or catheeranthus rosae is a new challenge for man against cancer. Also, a new compound 'Gossypol' isolated from gossypeum herbacum is now considered as a new contraceptive agent to be used by the male.