Herbs are staging a comeback and herbal ‘renaissance’ is happening all over the globe. The herbal products today symbolize safety in contrast to the synthetics that are regarded as unsafe to human and environment. Although herbs had been priced for their medicinal, flavoring and aromatic qualities for centuries, the synthetic products of the modern age surpassed their importance, for a while. However, the blind dependence on synthetics is over and people are returning to the naturals with hope of safety and security.

The notion of aromatic plants is even less definite. The attribute aromatic indicates plants having an aroma; being fragrant or sweetsmelling, while the word aroma is supposed to imply also the taste of the material (aromatic herbs). Spice plants are plants used for seasoning, spicing, flavoring and coloring foods, drinks and different products of the food processing industry, i.e. making a product more enjoyable. Frequently, we also speak of essential oil plants, that accumulate oils in certain specific organs or plant parts which are then used for the production of essential (ethereal) oils. Due to the complexity and overlapping uses of active ingredients, and the great number of plant species involved, it is impossible to establish rigid categories or a practical classification for medicinal and aromatic plants. Anise, dill, coriander, thyme, etc. are equally known as medicinal, spice and essential oil crops. Thus, frequently these plants are simply referred to as medicinal plants, disregarding their specific features. More recently, the term “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants” (2167-0412s) has been used in a slightly broader sense, distinguishing the fragrant (aromatic, ethereal) ingredients- containing group of medicinal plants.

Natural environment has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years, since healing with plants dates back probably to the evolution of Homo sapiens. Even to date, about 80% of the world’s inhabitants rely mainly on traditional medicines for their primary health care, while medicinal plants continue to play an important role in the health care systems of the remaining 20%. Partly based on their use in traditional medicine, an impressive number of modern drugs have also been isolated from natural plant species. Remarkably, even today there is no real definition for this special group of plants that has been accompanying mankind throughout history. Most frequently, medicinal plants are defined as feral and/or cultivated plants that, based on tradition and literature records, can be directly or indirectly used for medical purposes. The basis for this use is that these plants contain so called active ingredients (active principles or biologically active principles) that affect physiological (metabolic) processes of living organisms, including human beings.

The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed [1]. Furthermore, an increasing reliance on the use of medicinal plants in the industrialized societies has been traced to the extraction and development of several drugs and chemotherapeutics from these plants as well as from traditionally used rural herbal remedies [2]. Moreover, in these societies, herbal remedies have become more popular in the treatment of minor ailments, and also on account of the increasing costs of personal health maintenance. Indeed, the market and public demand has been so great that there is a great risk that many medicinal plants today, face either extinction or loss of genetic diversity As medicinal plant supplies diminish, constructive resource management and conservation strategies based on clear knowledge of the surrounding medicinal plant use must be designed. Many inventions about the medical and aromatic plants for health make people want to take an action as ‘back to nature’. With the increasing number of herbal medicine consumption, people should get more information related to the natural medicine. Besides, we want to invite people to use herbal medicine and understand about the good and bad effect not only in the human’s body but also in the surrounded environment.

The area of medicinal & aromatic plant research is fast developing. Both preclinical and clinical testing are integral components of medicinal plant research. Preclinical testing of plants for medicinal properties is of vital importance, not only to provide a scientific basis for their usage but also validate their historical utilization by traditional healers and herbalists, and thus provides the society with sources of new, effective and safe drugs.

The medicinal and aromatic plants for health can be found anywhere, in the wild place or inside the kitchen. People can find many hidden benefits when they put the seasoning into their meal. Some researchers find that Alium sativum or garlic can be used as an anti cancer. The Alium cepa or onion is good to for human’s body because it increase the system immune. Besides, the spices are good for body to keep the digestion, blood circulation and immune system. With the right treatment, people can get optimal active compound contained in those seasonings. This can be a good prevention from many diseases.

The international journal Medicinal and Aromatic Plants covers all aspects of medicinal crop cultivation, medicinal uses of plants, their active ingredients and related industries. This journal promotes the interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and ideas in medicinal plant crops and related industries. The journal aims to provide the most innovative, original and rigorous developments in research and industry, thereby, to set the standards. Interdisciplinary studies of fundamental problems on the subject are given high priority. The structure of the journal takes into account the broad scope of R&D in medicinal & aromatic plant crops research and industry.