ABSTRACT
Dioscorides, in the 17th century B.C., refers to plenty of spices and medicinal herbs in his work Materia Medica. Later, a Roman doctor Galenus dealt with the medical effects of many spices in 137 A.D. After that, scientific descriptions or reviews appeared about spices and herbs in books of grasses or in herbaria. In this way, with the passage of time and keeping pace with global technological advancements, the positive sides of herbs and spices for human well-being are revealed. Many spices are selectively chosen and facilitated by the growers, end users and researchers for their promotion and use. For example, sage (Salvia officinalis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) were sacred ceremonial herbs of the Romans. They were associated with immortality and were thought to increase mental capacity in ancient times. But many others remain unexplored, unutilized or underutilized.
