The centre of Medicinal Plants Research Station was initiated at Pilvai  (Mehesana) during 1972-73 and then shifted to Anand by ICAR in 1975 under erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU) and is continuing under Anand Agricultural University since 1^st May, 2004. Besides this presently, there are three Gujarat state Government funded projects to strengthen the research and relevant activities of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Station. Under these projects, research is being carried out in different disciplines like crop improvement, crop production, crop physiology and phyto-chemistry in various medicinal and aromatic plants.

       Over the period, the centre has collected more than 350 medicinally important crops species and maintains their germplasms scientifically at medicinal garden and research farm, respectively. This garden serves as a green library for education of the people and students. A nursery has also been established which provides planting materials of various sorts (seeds, seedlings, cuttings and plants) to farmers and for domestic use.