ABSTRACT
Since ancient times medicinal plants have been used for the treatment and prevention of innumerable diseases and disorders. At present, they are also being explored for the development and formulation of new food products (functional food, fortified food) and nutraceuticals. Unfortunately, they are becoming contaminated at a constant rate through various poor agricultural practices, like growing in contaminated soil, and irrigation through wastewater, etc. The contamination of medicinal plants and their product has shown numerous toxic effects on human health, including diabetes, heart disease, skin diseases, cancer, kidney failure, and even death in severe cases. Therefore, Chapter 7 discusses the positive and negative impacts of industrial wastewater, such as that from the detergent, textile, dairy, and oil industries, on the growth and development of medicinal plants.
