For thousands of years plants have played an important role in human health. Ancient societies looked to plants for medicinal "wonder" drugs. It was a study of traditional folk medicine that led scientists to the discovery of aspirin and codeine: drugs that have transformed modern medical practice. Today, many pharmaceutical companies are exploring the potential of the plant kingdom for new medicines. But they face a race against time with growing deforestation, species extinction and the loss of knowledge about traditional medicinal plants.

More than 25 percent of modern prescription drugs are based on, or produced from natural compounds found in certain plants and animals.

Experts predict that as many as 25 percent of all plant species—an estimated 60,000—could become extinct by 2050.

Less than 10 percent of known plant species have been screened for their medicinal value.