Edible and Medicinal Plants as Nutraceuticals: A Comprehensive Pharmacognostic Review

Curative and nutritional resources have been discovered in medicine and edible plants. It is an extensive pharmacognostic study of edible, nutraceutical and medicinal plants in relation to its historical aspect, classification, composition of the phytochemicals, pharmacological activity and the research methodology that is currently being carried out. It also discusses the problem of standardization, regulatory problems and safety and makes prospects based on nutraceutical innovation and drug discovery. Considerable phytoconstituents such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and vitamins are studied in light of their nutraceutical worth. Bioactive compounds and their health benefits of some of the plants were discussed which include turmeric (Curcuma longa), garlic (Allium sativum), green tea (Camellia sinensis), ginger (Zingiber officinale), amla (Phyllanthus emblica) and soy (Glycine max). The paper has found out that pharmacognosy has been the focus of discovery, authentication and standardization of the nutraceuticals, linguistic knowledge and modern scientific innovation.