Numerous books have been written on medicinal plants and

many more will be written since science is continuously

evolving.
 Each molecule of any living plant has enormous properties.

The fast changing methodology and technology routinely

give new dimension to the knowledge of a living cell. There is

now a greater focus on herbal medicinal plants. Thus

pharmaceutical industry today is subjected to sharper scrutiny

by pharmaceutical biotechnology, microbiology, molecular

biotechnology, biochemistry and genomics.
Identification of medicinal plants was passed on by one

generation to another in early ages by organoleptic methods.

However the later advances in physics and chemistry
opened new vistas and introduced newer methods of

identification. Macroscopic and Microscopic methods found

increasing acceptance. Then came chemical analysis
leading to state of art analytical instruments such as

spectrophotometers, TLC, HPTLC,HPLC, GLC et al. The book

gives details of the nomenclature and habitat, besides
pharmacognosy, chemical constituents and their structures.
Microbiological studies such as determination of surface

microbial contaminations of a few plants and evaluation of

anti-microbial activities of 50 plants with precautions,
wherever necessary, I have been given in this book. Detailed

and latest references and test of some plants, namely

information of Garlic, Aloe vera, Rauwolfia serpentina
and Cannabis etc. has been given. The book also has a

therapeutic guide to plants according to clinical applications,

glossary of some selected medical terms; list of some

important alkaloidal, glycosidal and tannin-containing plants:

and some important chemical structures. Therapeutic and

other uses have also been given. Toxicological and

therapeutical studies find specific mention in order to

strengthen the identification process. The world today

recognizes India's potential and ancient wisdom in the

domain of medicinal plants.
The book highlights the macro and micro features of

medicinal plants in terms of modern parameters. I have given

detailed description of 50 plants, moderate description
of 111 plants and short description of 394 plants. There is an

index of names in local languages, in addition to the index of

scientific names and general index. This update
knowledge regarding identification should go a long way in

presenting to scholars and scientists the advances made till

now.