Officinal Plants

Officinal Plants

Officinal plants are plant organisms from which parts of them are used or extracted for the production of medicinal specialties.
Medicinal, aromatic and perfume plants are considered, some species included in the specific lists and pharmacopoeias of the individual countries. The number of officinal plants is different for each country, also according to its traditions and climatic characteristics.
The regulation of this sector was born with the list of spontaneous medicinal plants subject to the provisions of the law of 6 January 1931 n. 99, indicated with the Royal Decree n. 772 of May 26, 1932. The list, from 1932, to date, has been updated several times, above all to exclude some items, replaced from time to time by more readily available and storable drugs.
The current Italian regulation governing medicinal plants is Legislative Decree 21 May 2018, n. 75 – Consolidated law on the cultivation, collection and first transformation of medicinal plants – pursuant to article 5 of the law of 28 July 2016, no. 154.
This Legislative Decree, in art. 1 gives the following definition:

“By medicinal plants we mean so-called medicinal, aromatic and perfume plants, as well as algae, macroscopic mushrooms and lichens intended for the same uses. Officinal plants also include some plant species which, in consideration of their properties and functional characteristics, can be used, even after processing, in the categories of products for which this is permitted by sector regulations, subject to verification of compliance with the requirements. of compliance required.
The following are listed in alphabetical order of the species on the list, with the following reading guide:
Scientific name – Vulgar name – Used parts – Notes.

– Letter A
– Letter B and C
– Letter D, E, F, G and H
– Letter I, J, K, L, M, N and O
– Letter P, Q and R
– Letter S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z

Guido Bissanti