ABSTRACT
Despite the extraordinary progress made in modern medicine, there are many who believe that traditional practices still have much to offer. A number of folk remedies for various illnesses and ailments have entered the mainstream, and many others are being subjected to scientific scrutiny to determine their efficacy. This is particularly true with regard to the use of herbs and other medicinal plants. Even in the modern era, when researchers are able to design synthetic organic substances with particular pharmacological characteristics, natural compounds derived from plants remain a vital tool for scientific medicine; approximately 30% of all pharmaceuticals on the market are produced directly from plants.
