< Back to previous page

Project

Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants have been identified and used traditionally throughout the world from the beginning of the human civilization. However, the advent of antibiotics in early 20th century led to decline in their usage and waned interest in providing scientific bases to their effects. The adverse effects of using antibiotics and other synthetic compounds on human and animal health and on product quality and safety have regenerated interest in the fields of ‘phytochemistry, phyto-pharmacology, phyto-medicine and phyto-therapy’ during the last decade. The phytochemicals of the plants contain various bioactive compounds, including antimicrobials, antiparasitic, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and anticancer molecules. At present, about 25% of the active compounds have been identified from medicinal plants. Different plant species have been used to cure a single disease or several diseases at a time. There are a great number of plants with purported properties, which have not been reproduced under experimental conditions. Traditional medicine all over the world has recently gained more attention through research studies on different plant species and their therapeutic properties. According to WHO, 80% of the populations in the developing countries still depend on traditional medicine, mostly plant drugs, for their primary health care needs. The indigenous knowledge of plants use for various diseases has been transferred from generation to generation which is generally low-cost treatment for various common diseases. Advanced microbial and chemical methods can synthesis many medicinal and aromatic compounds from plants. There is a need to search for new therapeutic agents due to the increasing instances of drug resistance by the currently available therapeutic agents of human and animal diseases. This study opens opportunity for new discoveries that would be beneficial in managing various infections.

Date:22 Jul 2020 →  Today
Keywords:Medicinal plants
Disciplines:Pharmacognosy
Project type:PhD project