Taxonomy, morphology and ecology of medicinal plants : a botanical perspective

Our aim is to introduce plant taxonomy and morphology and to explore why – from the perspective of the plant – biologically active compounds are produced. Thus we shall present a view of plant morphology and biologically active compounds set within an evolutionary and ecological context. Also, we wish to dispel the traditional view that it is only the secondary metabolites of plants that can be exploited as sources of therapeutic drugs – i.e. metabolites that do not contribute to primary metabolism and growth but have specialised roles, usually in plant defence or the attraction of animals for pollination or seed-dispersal (Wink 2004). A range of primary metabolites are now promising as potential therapies to fight some of the most insidious human diseases and disorders. And being plant primary metabolites, they can be readily found in great quantity.