Ethnobotanical knowledge and its role in the development ofIndian phytopharmaceuticals

This review deals with the crucial crossing of ethnobotanical knowledge and the development of phytopharmaceuticals in India, throwing into light the rich tapestry of traditional medicinal practices and the contributions that these have made toward modern drug discovery. India, with its biodiversity and a long history of the use of medicinal plants, has undergone some notable developments in research studies on phytopharmaceuticals, the best examples being Bacoside from Bacopa monnieri, Curcumin from Curcuma longa, and Artemisinin from Artemisia annua. Despite this promising potential, ethnobotanical knowledge faces challenges in the nature of biopiracy, loss of traditional practices, and a call for proper standardization in practice. Ethnobotany is definitely set for an upward trend and expansion in the near future, driven as it will be by continual advances in biotechnology, scope for joint collaboration between traditional healers and modern science, and supportive policies and institutional frameworks. Using ancient knowledge with modern scientific methods, India will be able to ensure future research that contributes toward developing better phytopharmaceuticals and hence, to health globally, while saving its rich cultural heritage.