Screening, Extraction, and Purification of Phytopharmaceuticals

Phytomedicine has a long history, with written evidence dating back around 5,000 years. Phytomedicine is the science of medicines from plants or plant-derived compounds with specific pharmacological activities. Phytopharmaceuticals have experienced tremendous growth due to their affordable, efficacious, and minimal toxicity properties in modern medicine. An estimated 60%–80% of the global population depends on herbal products for their primary healthcare needs, largely due to their accessibility, cultural acceptance, and perceived safety compared to conventional medicine reported by the World Health Organization. However, using phytomedicines is associated with quality concerns, including impurities (such as toxins and heavy metals), substandard substances, and metabolites. Thus, quality control protocols and measures are essential to ensure the production of high-quality herbal products. This chapter encompasses various extraction, isolation, purification, and identification techniques used for phytomedicines, as well as quantification and quality control. Additionally, the role of nanotechnology in phytopharmaceuticals has also been discussed