The present market for herbal products is growing exponentially and there is a huge demand for standardized, approved products of established safety and efficacy. This huge demand, dwindling plant resource wealth, reckless exploitation of natural plant wealth despite strict curtailing regulations in place, and the lack of precise regulatory control over the available vast range of plant based products are driving the extensive commercialization of the herbal drug market. Plant identification is critical and knowledge of the source, varieties, important constituents, traditional and clinical uses is an essential prerequisite for herbal drug development. Salient features of some traditional herbal drugs have been presented.