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Tuesday 28 April 2015

History and Background on the Use of Natural Products Obtained from Plants as Therapeutic Agents

Essentials of Botanical ExtractionPrinciples and Applications
2015, Pages 7–17

Chapter 2 – History and Background on the Use of Natural Products Obtained from Plants as Therapeutic Agents


Abstract

Since the inception of humankind, people have relied heavily on natural products for food and living. Through several trials and errors, they discovered that few plants are good as food, whereas some are poisonous, and that some produce physiological changes such as increased perspiration, hallucination, relief from pain, induction of bowel movement, and urination. Over the centuries, these astute observations and interpretations were passed on orally from one generation to another, whereby new addition and refining in the body of knowledge took place. Contemporary science has acknowledged our ancestors' knowledge, and this knowledge has thereafter been included in modern pharmacotherapy. This chapter gives a general overview of the different time frames of drug discovery and their usage for a better understanding.

Keywords

  • Hallucination;
  • Natural product;
  • Pharmacotherapy;
  • Poisonous