Plants, medicines and man

Plants have long been a source of therapeutic agents used by man. Some 80% of the world's population still rely upon plants for primary health care; even today in Western medicine, and despite progress in synthetic chemistry, some 25% of prescription medicines are still derived either directly or indirectly from plants. The use of plants in medicines ranges from crude preparations or extracts, to refined extracts and single molecular species. In terms of categories of use this encompasses food supplements, herbal medicines, botanical drugs and prescription medicines. Increased interest in plants as a source of novel pharmacophores recognizes their chemical diversity and versatility, not matched by synthetic chemistry libraries. In spite of the surge of activity in synthetic chemistry over the last 20 years or so, almost half the some 850 small molecules introduced as drugs were derived from plant sources. Over 100 small molecules derived either directly or indirectly from plants are currently at some point in the clinical trials process. It is argued that the present use of plant‐derived drugs and remedies only scratches the surface of what is a major reservoir of untapped potential, the level of biological and chemical diversity possessed by plants having much to offer in the drive for novel therapeutic agents in the fight against disease. Additionally novel developments in plant biotechnology and molecular biology add further dimensions to the use of plants in the production of therapeutic agents. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry