ABSTRACT
Plants produce a multitude of chemical substances, most of which are bio-logically active in human beings. Although primarily intended for use by the plants themselves, humans can also benet from them by making useful products such as medicines, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, fortied foods and beverages, fragrances, avors, personal care products, and various consumer goods. The extraction of the chemical substances is a sine qua non for the development of such products. A high-quality herbal extract is manufactured using a good-quality herb, an appropriate solvent and equipment, good manufacturing technology, and valid analytical methods. This chapter attempts to identify and describe the steps that contribute to the production of superiorquality extracts, at the laboratory and manufacturing plant levels.
