Medicinal plants are plants that have healing and, or therapeutic properties in any of their organs. It has been observed from this review that, apart from satisfying the health of people, medicinal plants have significant roles in the livelihoods of people especially in the rural communities. It serves as source of income, employment, food, raw materials and shelter for people. Furthermore, it was observed that local wholesalers control price information to the medicinal plants collectors, and that enables them to maintain high profits. The bulk of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) materials are exported from developing countries while major markets are in the developed countries. As a result, harvesting has become the domain of untrained and often indifferent commercial gatherers with no other income sources, hence, harvesting and provision of medicinal plants to meet urban demand have become environmentally destructive activity. In this context, proper education and awareness of the collectors/farmers and dealers will not only save foreign exchange but will also open new avenues for low income groups, therefore, playing a role in poverty alleviation.

Economic Value, Health and Cultural Impacts, Medicinal Plants