Abstract

Medicinal plants are rich resources of materials with ingredients of therapeutic value. They have a vital role in traditional medicines and also in the development of new drugs. The role of medicinal plants in healthcare, cultural values and well-being of people is acknowledged in many regions of the world. It is a fact that demand for herbal medicines is about 80% of population and is growing as the people are increasingly depending on herbal medicines. Herbal medicines are very effective, economically viable and useful as alternative to allopathic medicines due to the absence of additional medical complications.

This chapter presents the medicinal properties of plants in addressing many ailments and diseases including COVID 19, the rampant global pandemic. Section 1 introduces the medicinal importance of plants, followed by phytochemical, nutritional, pharmacological and major therapeutic uses of Curcuma longa of Zingiberaceae family. Recent developments and findings are presented to support these.