The 10 most sold medicinal plants in United States
| Plants | % of the market | Research |
|---|---|---|
| Echinacea | 9,9 | Germany |
| Garlic | 9,8 | Europe and USA |
| Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) | 7,0 | - |
| Ginseng (Panax) | 5,9 | Europe and Asia |
| Gingko biloba | 4,5 | Germany |
| Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) | 4,4 | - |
| Germany | - | - |
| Aloes | 4,3 | USA |
| Ephedra | 3,5 | USA |
| Eleuthero | 3,1 | Europe and Asia |
| Cranberries | 3,0 | USA |
(Centre québécois de valorisation des biomasses et des biotechnologies, 1997)
Biotechnology is a very important process in the improvement of plant
raw materials and the products that can be transformed from them.
Genetic engineering is fundamental for the identification, characterization
and improvement of plant varieties. Physico-chemical technologies
are being developed to extract, concentrate and preserve "functional raw materials".
Evolution of technologies
Pharmaceuticals and Functional Foods: Page 1 | Personal Hygiene