Herb: The word herb derived from the latin word herba – Grass/green stalks.

Herbs include
any part of the plant like leaves, roots, stem, bark etc posses therapeutic activity
Herbal medicine: Branch of science deals with medicinal plants, it includes modern standards
of testing of herbs and medicines derived from natural sources
Herbal Medicinal product: Defined as any medicinal product , exclusively containing one or
more active ingredients of herbal origin
Herbal Drug Preparations are made from herbal drugs and are prepared by the help of
different processes like infusion, decoction, maceration, distillation, fermentation etc. These
include whole plant/parts, powdered herbal drugs, extracts, essential oil, processed exudates
of herbal materials
Source of herbs:
Plants have ability to synthesize wide variety of chemical compounds that are used to
perform important biological functions and to defend against attack from insects, fungi and
herbivorous
 Many of these phytochemicals have beneficial effects on long term health when consumed
by humans and can be used to treat diseases effectively
 Phytochemicals are divided into Primary metabolites and secondary metabolites
 Primary metabolites – Cabohydrates, proteins and lipids found in all the plants
 Secondary Metabolites: Compounds which have therapeutic actions, do not have any role
in the growth of plants Eg: Alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, resins, volatile oil, latex etc
Quinine – Anti malarial
Reserpine – Anti hypertensive
Digitoxin – Cardiac stimulant