Enhancement of active constituents of medicinal plants through the use of microbes

Abstract

The traditional system of medicine plays a pivotal role in primary health care for the prevention and treatment of various ailments. Plants are an important source of biologically active compounds with therapeutic properties. These active compounds are commonly called as phytoconstituents or phytochemicals and are of significant importance in the efficacy of medicinal plants. These are mainly produced in those plants which are under stressful conditions. The amount of phytochemicals varies from plant to plant, and their concentration depends on location, local climate, and types of soil. Medicinal plants are normally collected from their natural and wild habitat, but now due to their growing market demand by the pharmaceutical industries, they are also cultivated. However, the cultivated plants may have lower efficacy due to the presence of lower amounts of active ingredients. This chapter focuses on the role and interactions of microbes with medicinal plants, impact on their functional efficacy, and possible synergistic role in quantitative enhancement of bioactive phytoconstituents.