Herbal Medicine for Market Potential in India: An Overview

People are using herbal medicines from centuries for safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability and lesser side effects. Plant and plant products have utilized with varying success to cure and prevent diseases throughout history. Written records about medicinal plants date back at least 5000 years to the Sumerians and ancient records are suggested earlier use of medicinal plants. Due to side effects of synthetic products, herbal products are gaining popularity in the world market. In spite of well-practiced knowledge of herbal medicine and occurrence of a large number of medicinal plants, the share of India in the global market is not up to the mark. The present article deals with the measures to be adopted for global promotion of Indian herbal products. The scenario and perceptions of herbal medicine are discussed.