ABSTRACT
Medicinal plants (MPs) and their products constitute a treasury of immense value to humankind. Nearly 72,000 MP have been used in diverse human cultures, and many are contemporary local and external trade commodities. The majority of MP supplies are sourced from the wild, and not more than 900 are cultivated (Schippmann et al., 2006). Loss of habitat through conversion of forestland to agriculture, forest ‹res, and encroachment for habitation is causing a rapid decline of native MP populations. Emphasis is placed on systematic MP cultivation for conservation and sustainable supplies (Schippmann et al., 2006). The genus Phyllanthus of Euphorbiaceae (Phyllanthaceae) comprises more than 800 species of aquatic plants, trees, shrubs, climbers, and annual and perennial herbs distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres (Webster, 1994). A number of species provide food, fodder, fruit, fuel, timber, dyes, and pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial products. Several species ‹nd extensive use in local medicine systems, and a few are cultivated in countries of origin on a small scale. Cultivation of Phyllanthus emblica, P. amarus, and other species is described.
