Rich Medicinal and Aromatic Flora in Balkan and East Europe Countries and its Protection from Environmental Stresses and People Overuse

摘要

Balkan and East Europe countries are known for their rich herbal tradition. Use of medicinal plants has a new dimension now in the production of essential oils and plant extracts. With the increased public demand for natural products all over the world, the exploration of medicinal flora is also growing. Many medicinal and aromatic plants are wild and their overuse can cause shortages or even extinction of species. On top of growing demand are severe environmental stresses (this year extreme drought and a very severe winter) which reduce the amount of plant material and total yield.What can we do to protect the wild medicinal plants? A team of plant physiologists, agronomists, and mechanical engineers from Canada and Serbia developed a number of methods, products, and suitable mechanisms for enforcement of sustainable development of the medicinal plant industry.