ADULTERATION IN MEDICINAL PLANTS AND HERBAL DRUGS

Abstract

Medicinal plants are considered as an effective source of traditional and modern medicine. In 20th and 21st century due to side effects of synthetic drugs, there is an increasing interest in Ayurvedic proprietary medicines. In India, about 80% of the rural population depends on medicinal herbs and/or indigenous system of medicine for primary health care. Adulterants and substitutes are the common malpractices in herbal raw material trade. Adulteration is considered as an intentional addition of foreign substances to increase the weight of the product or to decrease its cost. It may be due to Confusion in vernacular names, Lack of knowledge about authentic plants, Non availability, Similarity in morphology, activity, aroma, Careless collection and other unknown reasons. So, understanding of all the ways of adulteration and substitution is necessary to rectify this illegal act and maximizing consumer's safety.