Medicinal Plants and PGPR: A New Frontier for Phytochemicals

Plants are a reservoir of biologically active compounds with therapeutic properties and have been used worldwide for the treatment of various ailments. Successful cultivation of medicinal plants depends on biotic and abiotic factors which can modulate the composition of secondary metabolites and essential oil, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides should be avoided. Innovative biotechnological approaches such as the use of root-associated beneficial microbes which are able to promote plant growth, nutrient uptake, and protect plants against various soilborne pathogens can help plants to adapt to a number of environmental stresses and have vital importance in medicinal plant research. In this review, we examine plant–microbe interactions with medicinal plants and their functional characteristics. We also discuss the use of plant-associated beneficial microorganisms to enhance the levels of phytochemicals.