Studying medicinal plants

There is a need for countries, endowed with rich biological diversity and steeped in a traditional healing culture, to develop the economic potential of their medicinally useful plants. Nearly one quarter of medicine prescribed in the United States of America are of plant origin, with the market for plant-derived pharmaceuticals estimated at US$9 billion per year in the United States alone.

In Malaysia the roots of tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) contain biologically active compounds which have the potential to be developed as antimalarial drug. The crude extract of the bark of bintangor (Calophyllum lanigerum) contains the active component against the HIV virus.

1. Studying medicine
2. Researching health
3. Increasing research on non-wood forest resources
4. Expanding research on plants

1. Searching for plants with medical properties

1. Protecting medicinal plants
2. Making effective use of medicinal plants
3. Growing medicinal herbs

1. Medicinal Plants of Native Americans Database
2. American Botanical Council
3. MEDICINAL PLANTS RESEARCH IN ASIA
4. General overview of medicinal plants: A review
5. Medicinal Plants at Risk
6. Medicinal Plants: Local Heritage with Global Importance
7. History of Use of Traditional Herbal Medicines
8. International Trade Centre: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Extracts
9. Medicinal plants: Past history and future perspective
10. WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants