There is an increasing demand for natural ingredients,
such as fresh or dehydrated medicinal plants, fruits, pulps, herbal
extracts, vegetable oils, oleoresins, essential oils, natural
colorants and many others natural products. However, as natural
products are sold in various markets, it is necessary to look at
each products sector in order to get an indication of market trends
for natural products. To mention one example, medicinal plants, the
rise in demand seem to be driven by various factors, including the
following: · increasing costs of institutional,
pharmaceutical-based health care; · interest of individuals,
communities and national governments in greater self-reliance in
health care; · interest of communities and national governments in
small-and large-scale industrial development based on
local/national biodiversity resources; · increasing success in
validating the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies; ·
legislation improving the status of herbal medicine industry; ·
renewed interest of companies in isolating useful compounds from
plants; · search for new drugs and treatments of serious and
drug-resistant diseases; · marketing strategies by the companies
dealing in herbal medicine. |