Medicinal Plants and Foods

Medicinal plants or medicinal herbs have been identified and used since ancient times to improve the sensory characteristics of food. The main compounds found in plants correspond to four major biochemical classes: Polyphenols terpenes glycosides and alkaloids. Plants synthesize these compounds for a variety of purposes including protection of the plant against fungi and bacteria defense against insects and attraction of pollinators and dispersal agents to favor the dispersion of seeds and pollens.