Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

The present book ‘Production Technology of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ is a fundamental book on production technology of important medicinal and aromatic plants with their active ingredients and uses. Latest information on their production technology and their uses for different ailments has been provided. The active constituents of different medicinal plants for preparing various drugs have also been given at one place. Medicinal and aromatic plants are known to making from ancient times in almost all parts of the world as they are being used an as alternative source for curing various diseases and for extracting essential oils for preparing cosmetic and perfumery products. Plants have played a prominent role in many countries specially India and China since ancient times as an alternative source of medicine as they are cheap, effective and have no side effects. Even today about sixty per cent population use herbal medicine for various diseases. Natural plant products are in great demand all over the world now as people are conscious about their benefits. Health food and health drinks can be prepared from these herbal products instead of synthetic foods and drinks. A large number of aromatic plants producing essential aromatic oils are in much demand for preparing natural perfumery products all over the world. Natural oils from plants are used in every day human life in the manufacture of cosmetic, perfumery, soaps, pharmaceutical preparation, confectionary, disinfectants, incenses etc.  Conservation and cultivation of natural resources and their utilization for the well being of human being are of much importance. Out of almost 60,000 plant species that are threatened or at the verge of extinction, over 20,000 are from India alone. To conserve these rare medicinal and aromatic plant species their cultivation and domestication is essential and in some cases, it is difficult to cultivate them or it may not even survive beyond their natural habitat. Most of these wild plants are highly habitat specific and found only in specific areas. In some other cases even if the plants survive and grow they may not produce desired traits, so a through understanding of their growth habit is essential. This book aims to provide information on latest Horticultural techniques for commercial cultivation of important medicinal and aromatic plants in the farmers’ field and in the herbal gardens.