The history of medicine dates back perhaps to the origin of the human race. In those days, the subject of human suffering and its alleviation was intimately associated with religion, myth and magic. The organic world is sustained by plants through the fundamental process of photosynthesis. Plants have provided all the basic are the sources of food, medicine, fuel, fibre and others. Plants have been associated with the health of mankind from time immemorial and also the important source of medicines even since the dawn of human civilization. In the past, sickness was viewed as a punishment from God, and hence was treated with prayers and rituals. Indian has been a traditional exporter of medicinal plants for the past several decades and ranks as one of the foremost supplier of medicinal plants in the world. The importance of traditional medicine and medicinal plants is slowly gaining ground. Traditional remedies in India not only offer an affordable health care system; but also hold immense potential for the international market in this age of patents and intellectual property rights.