Moreover, knowledge of the toxicity of medicinal plants can be evidenced from ancient inscriptions such as Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC) with 800 different drug preparations from 700 plant species for therapy [2,3].
Plants that possess secondary metabolites of therapeutic potential are broadly referred to as medicinal plants. The use of plant parts for combating various diseases has been practiced by humankind from time immemorial. Every civilization had identified the healing properties of specific medicinal plants and the knowledge was subsequently passed onto successive generations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 75% of the world's population depends on herbs for basic healthcare needs [1]. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, interest in the use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes declined as there were many shortcomings in the processing methods used and a paucity of information on their side effects. In addition, the availability of techniques for the isolation of pure compounds and synthesis of new compounds with proven biomedical applications also had contributed to a major extent to the reduced interest in the use of plant parts. Moreover, knowledge of the toxicity of medicinal plants can be evidenced from ancient inscriptions such as Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC) with 800 different drug preparations from 700 plant species for therapy [2,3]. In this context, there is an impending requirement to compile information on the probable adverse reactions of the medicinal plants through appropriate scientific studies before formulating and marketing them as herbal drugs.