Introduction The known fact that India is treasure house of medicinal plants having the ability to cure many dreadful diseases and ailments without any side effects. India is blessed with varied agro-climatic conditions which permits the large biodiversity of medicinal plants. There are about 7000 plant species known to have medicinal values out of 18000 species of higher plants reported in India. Any other country in the world is not having this much proportion of medicinal plants against the existing flora. Since, the times immemorial Indians are using variety of medicinal plants for curing different diseases/ailments of humans and animals. The Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) is one of the famous medical systems in the world which include Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homeopathy and other indigenous practices. Ayurveda is the oldest known medical system in India has alone documented 2000 medicinal plants followed by Siddha and Unani. The estimates of World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that 80% of the population in developed and developing countries depends on traditional plant based medicines for their health requirements.

S. Ramesh Kumar

Papers

Herbal Gardens for Health and Wealth