Despite its importance, pharmacognosy faces several challenges, including:
This section sets the foundation by defining the scope of the study. Definition & History
The use of natural products for medicinal purposes dates back to ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese. The Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BCE) is known to have used plant-based remedies in his practice. The Chinese have a long tradition of using herbal medicine, with the oldest known Chinese medical text, the Shennong Ben Cao Jing, dating back to around 300 BCE.