A REVIEW ON ADULTERATION OF CRUDE DRUGS

Dr. Ravindra S. Kharat* and Dr. Sneha Suresh Mali

ABSTRACT

For millions of year human population is using herbal plants for health issue. Herbal products are becoming very popular in recent era due to its less side effect and ease availability. This increases the demand for raw materials exponentially. However, production growth is still linear. Now days adulteration and substitution of crude drugs is major burning problem that threatens the integrity of ayurvedic medicine. There is no doubt, substitution is helpful in place where unavailability of particular crude drug and or unexpected adverse effect of desired crude drug are there and have a choice of other drug with similar pharmacological effect. In most case it is unacceptable because of the conversion of authentic drug into substandard drug. Imprecise knowledge, misidentification, deforestation, personal profit led to adulteration. Therefore, understanding of all ways of adulteration and substitution is necessary for consumer safety. The adverse consequences of adulteration on health have only recently begun to be recognised and registered. This article based on adulteration, its type and various methods of adulteration and standardization of crude drugs.

Keywords: Adulteration, Crude drug, Evaluation methods.