ABSTRACT
Plant natural products constitute the most diversified source of unique chemical structures, providing the basis for identification of new lead molecules that serve as starting point for novel drug discovery. India has a rich heritage of using plant-derived or so-called herbal medicines since ancient times. Due to unique agro-climatic conditions and physio-geographical features, the Himalaya region harbors high-value medicinal plants, which serve as the source of many life-saving drugs. Despite extensive use in Indian traditional medicine, information on active constituents and scientific evidence for the disease-curing mechanisms of most of the Himalayan medicinal plants are still elusive. This chapter provides a brief introduction to plant-based medicine—present scenario and future prospects, information on the traditional Indian system of medicine, plant biodiversity of the Himalaya, important medicinal plants of this region and their medicinal uses, conservation procedure, marketing strategies, and various approaches to sustainable production of Himalayan medicinal plants.
