Classical uses of Medicinal Plants

Plants are an important part of modern medicine. The word drug is derived from the French word 'drougue' meaning dry herb. Historically, Indian, Chinese, Egyptian and Babylonian civilizations have evidences of plants being used to treat human illnesses. Common drugs obtained from parts of plants and used commonly in therapeutics are atropine, morphine, digoxin, pilocarpine, physostigmine, codeine, bulk laxatives, colchicine and many others. Oils, gums, resins and tannins are other products of plants which are used as part of medicine formulations like cough mixtures, emulsions and suspensions.