Therapeutic Potential of Phytoconstituents and Personalized Medicine

India has a rich tradition of the use of herbal medicine since the time immemorial. The treatment using plant-based medicaments became possible owing to the rich medicinal plant biodiversity. Several spices used on a regular basis in food preparation offer protection from a variety of ailments. Further, food consumption in different parts of the country has evolved based on culture, tradition, weather, and availability of resource materials. In a rural set-up, generally, the food is cruder but natural and thus healthier. Food harnessing and garnishing have become a standard practice to enhance the taste and look. Some of the herbs are used directly as food whereas others as food additives. Simultaneously, a large number of phytoconstituents have been characterized for their medicinal properties. In this chapter, we report on Phytoconstituents used for herbal formulation and discuss their therapeutic potential in human diseases. It is envisaged that such information would be of great use for ameliorating diseases ensuring better health complementing the concept of personalized medicine.

Keywords: Food additives, Human diseases, Medicinal plants, Phytoconstituents, Personalized medicine.