Organic Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: a Review

Medicinal and aromatic plants are the source of various bioactive components which are source of basic material for various pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavours, and industrially important bio-chemicals. These bioactive components have been used by mankind for treating various diseases since long time. Many of these bioactive components have very complex structure which makes it hard to economically synthesize them in laboratory and so plants became only source for their production. Growing environment plays an important role in the production of these plant secondary metabolites. Among these environmental factors physical and chemical properties of soil are of great importance for the growth and development of plants. It had been studies that chemical compounds present in soil had great impact on secondary metabolite production. Chemical fertilizers not only deteriorate the quality of soil but also impact the productivity and quality of plant secondary metabolites. So, under good agricultural practices followed for the cultivation of the medicinal and aromatic plants, organic cultivation is of utmost importance. Organic manures not only helps in improving soil health but also helps in better growth of plants and does not have any residual effect on the plant produce.