Pharmacognosy is delineated as an area of pharmacy involved with the medicinal plants, natural pharmaceutical products, extraction and purification of natural drugs, and rational application of traditional medicines. [1] Pharmacognosy, as a modern science, began in 20 th century in Iran through teaching modern science and research classes for undergraduate pharmacy students and nowadays, is one of the main departments of pharmacy in 13 pharmacy schools, including Tehran, Shahid Beheshti, Shiraz, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan, Ahwaz, Kerman, Sari, Kermanshah, Zanjan, Hamedan, and Islamic Azad all around the country. The first group of residents to be trained as pharmacognosist entered a postgraduate program in decade 1990-1999. The residency program in pharmacognosy was founded in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy. [2] Research programs in pharmacognosy include studies in some areas of phytochemistry (including isolation and structural elucidation of natural compounds from diverse phytochemicals), biological, and pharmacological investigations on medicinal plants and extracts, plant cell cultures, and finally, standardization of traditional herbal medicines. The Iranian Society of Pharmacognosy was established in 1991. This organization mission is to promote the development of pharmacognostical research and education through presentation of research achievements and publication of meritorious research, and to modify the professional responsibilities of a pharmacognosist in related pharmaceutical companies. [3] Read More...