Plant Medicine

Overview

Plant medicine, also called herbal or botanical medicine and the basis of pharmacognosy, is the use of plants and plant-derived preparations to prevent and treat disease, together with the scientific study of their constituents and biological actions. Its therapeutic activity arises chiefly from secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, saponins, and tannins, which are synthesized by plants and can exert antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological effects. Long-established traditional systems, such as those drawing on local floras worldwide, have documented the use of medicinal plants, and these traditions continue to guide the search for new therapeutic agents. Scientific investigation of plant medicine proceeds from the selection and identification of candidate species through preparation of extracts and the isolation, separation, and structural characterization of active compounds using techniques such as phytochemical screening and chromatographic profiling. Bioactivity is then evaluated in laboratory assays and biological models, for example testing leaf, bark, and root extracts for antimicrobial or antifungal activity against pathogens, or examining effects of specific metabolites in animal studies. The discipline also addresses standardization, quality control, dosage, safety, and potential toxicity. As a source of both traditional remedies and lead compounds for drug discovery, plant medicine bridges botany, chemistry, and pharmacology.

Research published in this journal

5 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 5 articles above have been cited 90 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

• Deciphering the detailed crystallographic structure of biologically synthesized nano-silver: Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial efficacy and anticancer properties against HepG2 cancer cell line with accentuation to apoptosis and ROS generation
  2026 · Journal of Molecular Structure
• Green-Synthesized titanium dioxide Nanoparticle–Modified glass ionomer cement: in vitro and in Silico assessment of Mechanical, Physical, and safety properties performance
  2026 · Scientific Reports
• Phytofabricated Silver Nanoparticles from Origanum majorana: Anti-Pathogenic Activity and Biocompatibility Evaluation
  2026 · Microbial Pathogenesis
• HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER IN INFRARED ASSISTED HEAT PUMP DRYING OF HOLY BASIL LEAVES $(OCIMUM GRATISSIMUM)$
  2026 · JP Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
• Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Cynoglossum creticum Leaf Extract: Eco-Friendly Approach for Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Sensing Applications
  2025 · Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
• Insights into synergistic antibacterial effects, antioxidant potential, and anticancer activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles from Odontosoria chinensis leaves
  2025 · Next Nanotechnology
• Curbing anti-microbial resistance of synthetic medicinal agents using herbal drug alternatives: current trends and future insights
  R. Bushra et al. · 2025 · Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences
• In Vitro Determination of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Antiviral Properties of Greek Plant Extracts
  Aliki Tsakni et al. · 2025 · Microorganisms

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Plant Medicine, linking to each citing work.

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.

Related topics