Traditional Herbal Medicine and Its Clinical Relevance: A Need to Preserve the Past for the Future

Abstract

Herbal medicines have been gaining popularity worldwide. They are an integral component of alternative medical care and provide a rich source for innovative drug discovery. However, the rapid increase in the demand for herbal medicines and products has led to the rapid depletion of herbal plants. In addition, rapid population growth, industrialization, and global climate change have endangered these medicinal plants. Given the imminent threat associated with the loss of medicinal plant diversity, this review highlights the need to protect these threatened plant species and avoid the loss of their therapeutic value. The aim of the study was to conserve resources and link them with current research activities and projects to develop novel and more effective drugs in the future.