ABSTRACT
At the current growth rate the world population is likely to touch the 7.5 billion mark by the year 2020. Mostly, this increase is in the developing or underdeveloped countries, 80% of whose population still relies on a traditional system of medicine based on herbal drugs (Ramawat and Goyal 2008). The Indian traditional system of medicine includes Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and homeopathy (Mukherjee 2011). Herbal drugs are not only used for primary health care in rural areas in developing countries, but also in developed countries where infect modern medicines are predominantly recommended (Joshi and Rao 2011, Krishnan et al. 2011). Medicinal plants (MPs) are the main source of drugs that are used from the ancient times as herbal remedies for health care, and prevention and cure of various diseases and ailments (Kalia 2005). Globally, 77,000 plants (18.2% of total plant species) are currently put to use for medicinal purpose. Out of the 77,000 MPs used worldwide, 3000 MPs are internationally traded, only 900 species are cultivated and rest of the species are gathered from their natural habitats (Rao et al. 2012, Ramawat and Goayl 2008). Ayurveda, the oldest medicinal system in the Indian sub-continent, has alone reported approximately 2000 medicinal plant species, followed by Siddha and Unani. The Charak Samhita, an ancient document on herbal therapy, reports on the production of 340 herbal drugs and their indigenous uses. The market prices for medicinal plants and derived materials provide only a limited insight into the workings of the market, and not on the precise information of profi ts, supply and demand. Global imports and exports (2005-2010) of medicinal plants and plant parts are to the tune of US$ 2.09 and 2.08 billion/ year, respectively (Ramawat and Goayl 2008, Kala et al. 2006).
