title: [Herbal drugs: from traditional use to regulation].
abstract: Herbal preparations have been used for centuries as the main therapeutic means. In Italy there is an ancient tradition of using herbal remedies, which became extremely important from the 16th to the 18th century. Nowadays multinational companies invest great resources on herbal drugs and preparations. This article focuses on herbal medicines, herbal products, and food supplements. Moreover the European legislation on traditional medicinal plants and food supplements is analysed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. federici@iss.it
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Multari
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzino
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D005062:European Union; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D007881:Legislation, Food; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations