Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used since antiquity for various medicinal purposes. Their use continues undiminished since ancient times. Most of the world population depends on plant-based medicinal preparation for health care purposes. Plants contain various biologically active compounds. These compounds and their derivatives are being used in the pharmaceutical industry. They contain a vast reservoir of bioactive constituents that are still unexplored for medicinal properties. The demand for plant-based medicinal products and ayurvedic medicines is increasing day by day as these herbal medicines do not have side effects while every synthetic medicine comes with some side effects. So, plant-derived products are potential candidates to be new-generation medicinal products.

In the first article of thisspecial issue by Geeta Tewari and coworkers titled “Drying Potential of Leaves Oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC from North India,” researchers have reported the drying potential of aromatic leaves oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. They observed that the essential oil composition of Z. armatum was affected significantly after shade drying. These studies will be useful for drug/product development and valuation of their properties. In another article titled “Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential of Stem and Leaf Extracts of Himalayan Tinospora cordifolia Hook. f. & Thomson,” researchers have compared the antioxidant potential of leaf and stem of medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia Hook. f. & Thomson. In an article titled “Chemical and antibacterial activity evaluation of Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia zerumbet grown in foothills agro-climatic conditions of northern India,” researchers have evaluated the antibacterial potential of active chemical constituents of Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia zerumbet.

The aim of the present thematic issue is to focus on current research and development of bioactive compounds isolated from medicinal and aromatic plants. I hope the thematic issue of the journal will be useful for the research scholars, professors, public health professionals, dieticians, nutritionists, and the general public for information regarding the latest advancements in the medicinal and aromatic plants as a source of bioactive compounds. The editors would like to acknowledge all the contributors, especially researchers, reviewers, and senior editors who have made a contribution to this special issue.