oa Editorial [ Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Guest Editors: K. Saito and M. Yamazaki ]

Since the ancient times plants have been rich sources of medicines. This is still true even in the modernized Societies. New natural compounds potentially leading to innovative drugs are being discovered from plants. We are often astonished by how much man enjoys the benefits of the huge chemical diversity of plants not only for providing medicines but also pesticides, flavors, dyes and other industrial materials. More recently plant biotechnology, including cell culture and genetic manipulation, offers new possibilities for the development of more effective pharmaceuticals and feasible production of drugs from plants. This Special Issue aims to review the state-of-the-art for medicinal plant biotechnology. All six articles deal with plant-derived compounds which are clinically used nowadays. These chapters are contributed by the leading scientists from throughout the world. They describe the current status of biosynthesis and accumulation of pharmaceutical compounds in plants and plant cell cultures, gene identification for the production of these compounds, and future prospects of medicinal plant biotechnology. We hope this Special Issue will carry the torch for the research on medicinal plants in the future, and we look forward to breakthrough innovations in drug developments through modern plant biotechnology.