Important Base Knowledge

Active Constituents

The medicinal effects of certain plants are well known. German Chamomile, for example, has been taken to soothe digestive problems for thousands of years, and Aloe vera was was known as far back as Cleopatra as a healing skin remedy. It is only relatively recently, however, that active constituents responsible for the medicinal actions of plants have been isolated and observed. Knowing a little about the chemicals contained in plants helps us to understand how they work in the body.

Phenols

Volatile Oils

Flavonoids

Tannins

Proanthocyanins

Coumarin

Saponins

Anthraquinones

Cardiac Glycosides

Cyanogenic Glycosides

Polysaccharides

Glucosilinates

Bitters

Alkaloids

Vitamins

Minerals