1.1. MEDICINAL PLANTS HISTORY Medicinal plants have a long and illustrious history stretching back thousands of years, with their use documented in ancient civilizations such as India, Egypt, China and Arabia. India, known for its Ayurvedic heritage, has oral traditions concerning medicinal herbs dating back as far as 6,000 BC.The rich history of medicinal plants is entwined with ancient civilizations like India, Egypt, China and Arabia and these plants, valued for their therapeutic properties, continue to play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of human ailments (Petrovska, 2012).