Since ancient times, mankind has relied primarily on the plant kingdom to fulfill all of their medicinal needs: for treating illnesses, seeking everlasting health, immortality, and seeking relief from pain and discomfort, as well as for fragrance, favors, and foods. It had prompted the early man to examine his immediate natural environment and experiment with a wide range of plant, animal, and mineral products, as well as create a variety of therapeutic agents. Despite developments in modern Western medicine, medicinal plants continue to play an important role in both preventive and curative therapies in Asia’s emerging and developing countries. Despite the fact that herbal or plant-based medicines are commonly used and trusted by the general public and have been for many years, only a few have been licensed as prescription medicines by regulatory agencies in the Western world (e.g., the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Alternative drugs are used by up to 50% of cancer patients, and patient requests for greater access can be found on social media.

Plant-based medicines are becoming famous as an alternative medicinal therapy method for many ailments. These medicinal plants are gaining global popularity as a result of their increased traditional use and cultural acceptability, as well as the fact that they have few side effects. Most developing countries are promoting natural medicines, which are often more cost-effective than prescription drugs, and they have begun researching and filing patents on medicinal plants and their derivatives. Many medications are yet to go through the drug approval process and have not been tested for their safety and efficacy. Medicine-based industries will formulate these medicinal plant-derived drugs. In 2010, the international trade in medicinal plants and their derivatives was reported to be worth USD 60 billion, with a projection of USD 5 trillion by 2050. Asia has a large number of medicinal plant species and is a major exporter of both the plants and their products. These medicinal plants can be popularized and used to help low-income Asian countries develop their economies and provide jobs for their people. Furthermore, overexploitation of medicinal plants should be restricted, valuable species with high marketing value should be conserved, and cultivation of these plants should be encouraged for future use.

Herbal medicines are becoming increasingly common, according to recent studies. The use of medicinal plants has increased dramatically in most developed countries over the last decade, with a growing trend in Ayurvedic (herbal) products—and fields where India’s expertise dates back centuries. However, the country has not only seen the commercialization of the herbal definition in the last decade. Herbal has now established itself as a full-fledged trend in both beauty and health care products. Herbal over-the-counter (OTC) medications have also made major gains.