The use of plant extracts is a remarkable thread of continuity in human history. In antiquity, civilizations from Egypt to China meticulously documented the preparation of herbal infusions, resins, and oils for medicine, embalming, and perfumery. The Middle Ages saw this knowledge preserved and expanded in monastic gardens and Arabic texts. The true revolution, however, began with the scientific isolation of active compounds in the 19th century, such as morphine from opium poppy. Today, modern extraction techniques like supercritical CO2 allow for unparalleled purity and potency, transforming ancient wisdom into standardized pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and sophisticated cosmeceuticals, bridging empirical tradition with evidence-based science.
