Industrial utilization of medicinal and aromatic plants

A tremendous change has been going on globally in the last two decades, and especially in the last one in favour of the increased use of medicinal and aromatic plant products in pharmaceutical and related industries. This interest needs a closer focus in order to analyze the reasons behind this positive trend. Therefore, the paper is divided into two parts. The first part mainly deals with medicinal plants and focuses on the facts behind this sudden but steady upsurge of interest in industrial utilization of medicinal plant products as reflected by the growing market figures worldwide. Ln the final part, the world situation as regards aromatic plants is covered. Essential oils, aromatic plant extracts and aromachemicals are dealt with from the perspective of industrial utilization.