Synopsis From earliest times, herbs have been used for pain-relieving and health care needs. They have provides all the mecicament to man and his domestic animals for a wide spectrum of ailments and to soothe his aches and pains. According to an estimate of the World health Organization, approximately 80 per cent of the people in developing countries rely chiefly on traditional medicines for primary heath care needs; a major portion of these involves the use of medicinal plants. Amongst the ancient civilizations, India has been known to be a rich repository of medicinal plants, the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva veda, Charaka samhita, Sushruta samhita described the properties and uses of plants. The knowledge of Medicinal Plants has expanded a lot in recent years. This second edition of the book “Medicinal Plants: Utilisation and Conservation” contains 24 chapters covering holistic information on medicinal plants, their utilization, conservation, cultivation and diseases with special reference to the Indian scenario. A comprehensive account of current advances in herbal based contraceptive research; Plants with anti-oxidative properties; Intellectual property right have added to the value to the book. New chapters includes Medicinal plant for Asthmatic problems; Biotechnological advances in medicinal plant species; Catharanthus for cancer chemotherapy and biotechnological interventions and Role of secondary metabolites in defense mechanism. This book provides adequate background and current information on medicinal plants. It will be very useful for a variety of scholars, historians and practitioners of medicines, researchers in botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology and also phytogeographers and conservationists.