The use of plant extracts is a profound thread woven through human history. In antiquity, civilizations from Egypt to China meticulously prepared herbal infusions and resins for medicine, embalming, and ritual. The Ebers Papyrus and Shennong Bencao Jing are testaments to this ancient, empirical wisdom, where plants like willow bark and poppy were foundational.
The advent of modern chemistry transformed this practice. The 19th century isolation of morphine from opium and salicin from willow bark marked a pivotal shift from crude extracts to identified active compounds. This scientific rigor unlocked targeted therapies and standardized production.
Today, evolution continues through advanced technologies like supercritical CO2 extraction and chromatography, yielding purer, more potent extracts. These innovations bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals, ensuring plant-derived compounds remain vital in our pursuit of health and wellness.
