Abstract
This paper is a brief revision on the historical aspects and on certain economical feasibility studies, which justify the inclusion of medicinal plants in the national system of genetic resources conservation. The Brazilian Center for Genetic Resources Conservation (Embrapa/Cenargen) is starting a new research line in conservation of medicinal plants, through the conservation of drug-producing plant genetic resources in an Active Germplasm Bank. Here, representatives of important species which were, are or can become organisms for further research are being kept, studied and documented.