Summary:

There has been a growing interest over the last years in techniques using alternative and pharmaceutical plants due to their wide potential applications. These species are characterised by valuable and multidirectional usable features, due to which their practical application is superior to their physiognomic features. These plants may provide a raw material for production of medicines, cosmetics or may be used for animal feeds. Moreover they may be used as ornamental, melliferous and energy plants. Owing to their generally low soil requirements they are used in the reclamation of degraded land. Among the species characterized by multidirectional use are Silphium perfoliatum, Helichrysum arenarium and Stevia rebaudiana. These plants are characterized by a high content of active compounds and a number of pro-health characteristics. Because raw materials for production of medicines and cosmetics should be standardized, cultures maintained under controlled conditions are a good source of seedlings.