Nomenclature: Herbal Taxonomy in the Global Commerce of Botanicals

In the world trade of medicinal plants, the naming of plants is fundamental to understanding which species are acceptable for therapeutic use. There are a variety of nomenclatural systems that are used, inclusive of common names, Latinized binomials, Galenic or pharmaceutical names, and pharmacopeial definitions. Latinized binomials are the primary system used for naming wild plants, but these alone do not adequately define medicinal plant parts. Each system has its specific applications, advantages, and disadvantages. The topic of medicinal plant nomenclature is discussed broadly by underscoring when and how varying nomenclatural systems should be used. It is emphasized that pharmacopeial definitions represent the only naming system that integrates plant identity, relevant plant parts, and the specific quality metrics to which a material must comply, thus affording the most appropriate identification method available for medicinal plant materials.