Phytomedicine New and old approach

ABSTRACT

The relationship between man and plants is as old as the history of mankind itself. Since antiquity man has studied plants and animals, particularly as a source of food and to ward off ailments [Said, 1982]. Therefore with the passage of time man was able to distinguish between harmful or poisonous and useful plants. Some plants were found useful as food while other showed beneficial effect against various types of diseases. This is how the knowledge of drugs from plants developed. Based on son authentic, published sources, the authors aim at presenting a survey of biologically active compounds isolated from plant sources, and establishing link between ethnopharmacology and contemporary use of medicinal plants, as well as research trends in phytomedicine