Phytomedicines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A category of therapeutic agents derived from plants that are used in the treatment or prevention of diseases
2. Natural products obtained from flora which are utilized for medicinal purposes in health care
3. The study and application of plant-based substances as remedies to promote health and cure ailments

Etymology: Phytomedicine is a modern coinage built from Greek roots: "phyton" meaning "plant" and the Latin-derived "medicina," meaning "medicine." The plural form, phytomedicines, is simply the plural of that noun, so it refers to more than one plant-derived remedy or type of remedy. The "phyto-" element is a combining form that appears in many scientific terms, such as phytoplankton and phytochemical, where it consistently signals a connection to plants. Pairing it with "medicine" produces a compact way to name herbal and botanical treatments within a scientific or pharmaceutical context. The plural form is used when discussing several distinct agents or categories of them.

Synonyms: herbal medicines, plant-based medicines

Antonyms: synthetic medicines