Few crops dominate the crop rotations worldwide. Following the goal of an increased agricultural biodiversity, species such as buckwheat but also medicinal plants might become more important in future. The biology, physiology, stress tolerance and central aspects of the value-added chain of the above-mentioned and of other alternative crops will be depicted.

Based on epidemiology, economic importance and evidence-based medicine, basic principles of rational phytotherapy will be discussed: a) Identification of drug candidates, b) registration requirements, c) criteria to assess efficacy, d) biomarkers and pharmacokinetics, e) safety and f) principles of extract generation. Important prototypes will be discussed