Skip to main content

Production of Life-Saving Drugs from Himalayan Herbs

Research Authors
Kriti Juneja, Shashank Sagar Saini, Mariam Gaid, Ludger Beerhues, and Debabrata Sircar
Research Department
Research Journal
Book: Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources
Research Publisher
CRC Press
Research Rank
Book chapter
Research Vol
ISBN: 9781315153292
Research Website
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.1201/9781315153292-11/production-life-saving-drugs-himalayan-herbs-kriti-juneja-shashank-sagar-saini-mariam-gaid-ludger-beerhues-debabrata-sircar
Research Year
2017
Research Member
Research_Pages
333-351
Research Abstract

Plant natural products constitute the most diversified source of unique chemical structures, providing the basis for identification of new lead molecules that serve as starting point for novel drug discovery. India has a rich heritage of using plant-derived or so-called herbal medicines since ancient times. Due to unique agro-climatic   conditions
and physio-geographical features, the Himalaya region harbors high-value medicinal plants, which serve as the source of many life-saving drugs. Despite extensive use in Indian traditional medicine, information on active constituents and scientific evidence for the disease-curing mechanisms of most of the Himalayan medicinal plants are still elusive. This chapter provides a brief introduction to plant-based medicine—present scenario and future prospects, information on the traditional Indian system of medicine, plant biodiversity of the Himalaya, important medicinal plants of this region and their medicinal uses, conservation procedure, marketing strategies, and various approaches to sustainable production of Himalayan medicinal plants.