Topic overview

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Early sources such as the Ebers Papyrus and Mesopotamian tablets recorded medicinal substances. Asian compendia, Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica, and later Islamic scholarship organized and extended this knowledge. Galen’s formulations and the first pharmacopoeias helped shape preparation practices and quality standards. In the early modern period, Paracelsus emphasized chemical constituents, while the isolation of compounds such as morphine marked a shift toward experimental phytochemistry; A. Seydler introduced the term “Pharmacognosy” in 1811. Microscopy, chemical tests, and modern analytical tools later improved authentication and characterization. The field has since expanded to microbial products, ethnopharmacology, biotechnology, omics, and sustainability, linking historical knowledge to contemporary discovery and responsible use.