Current Science

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Harshberger1 (Pennsylvania, USA) first used the term ‘ethno-botany’ in 1896 (Figure 1), referring to the science of relationships between humans and plants. Ethnobotany, today, has grown into a multidisciplinary science involving the bionomics, chemistry, uses and ecology of plants as relevant to human culture, heritage, economics, and in linguistics. This science has enabled us – humans – to know the ‘better side’ of plants. Through a c. 50,000-year experience, we have learnt to utilize plants for their benefits. Agriculture is one such2. Natural products chemistry is another, jumpstarted by Schmidt in 1811 (ref. 3). Simonsen, Chopra, Dey, Siddiqui, and Seshadri led natural products chemistry in India to great heights in the 20th century4. Besides, the botanical wisdom of ancient human societies, gained through experience has been another factor in empowering humans in this direction5,6.
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