Hadi Erfani
Due to climatic and geographical conditions, Iran is home to a wide range of medicinal plants and has been a source of production and consumption of medicinal plants in the past. Therefore, in addition to the growing importance of medicinal plants worldwide, it is rapidly replacing many chemical drugs. Exports of these plants can also be a major source of foreign exchange earnings for the country. Medicinal plants have many uses in various fields of medicine, industry, agriculture and food. The use of medicinal plants in the pharmaceutical industry is of particular importance. Medicinal herbs and especially some of their effective ingredients such as essential oils are of particular in addition to those listed in agricultural applications. Some herbal essential oils have antioxidant properties that have no harm to humans and the environment. Fortunately, over the past decades, Communities views of medicinal plants and their healing effects have completely changed and somehow the industrial societies approach to herbs and medicines can be observed. Especially for developing countries, including Iran, it is has another advantage, which is employment. With the development of cultivation and industry of medicinal plants in some parts of the country, the employment of young and educated people is provided.
