[Medicines from nature: old fashioned concept or promise for the future?].

Scientific research into natural products has substantially contributed to our current drug armamentarium. This research has yielded numerous novel molecular structures and it has also increased our knowledge of pharmacological mechanisms of action. Moreover, ethnopharmacological studies have regularly shown that the traditional use of a natural product may correlate with the pharmacological action of its components and their derivatives. Nature still has much more in store for healthcare than a bunch of flowers for the bedridden patient. To secure that future generations can fully reap these benefits, it is essential to conserve the biodiversity of natural resources and the indigenous knowledge about their bioactivity.