The therapeutic properties of plants, in particular their roots, stems and leaves, have been recognised for thousands of years, with clear evidence from ancient records. Pedanius Dioscoride’s manuscripts in the first century AD list more than 500 plant species in the famous De materia medica, a reference text in Europe for more than 1,500 years. In more recent history, scientists evolved the belief that specific compounds in the plant were responsible for its healing attributes. Today, we see plant-derived ingredients and compounds in a multitude of products across different categories including medicines, food supplements, nutraceuticals and traditional herbal medicines. In our September issue, we give a small insight into these types of products and the regulatory requirements surrounding them.