@article {2237, title = {Adulteration of Herbal Medicine and its Detection Methods}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {February 2024}, pages = {248-254}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {248}, abstract = {

People are increasingly turning to the use of herbal medicines (HMs) due to the growing trend of embracing nature and concerns about the adverse effects of conventional treatments. HMs provide a sense of safety because they are natural and intended for long-term use. However, herbal medicines are also associated with adverse effects. Furthermore, the use of these medicines poses dangers associated with the deliberate inclusion of synthetic substances, the intentional or accidental substitution of plant species, or simply the risk of mislabeling. While reports of illegal synthetic or pharmaceutical substances being added often involve herbal weight-loss and weight gain preparations, aphrodisiacs, treatments for rheumatic and inflammatory diseases, antidiabetic medications, and antihypertensive preparations, it appears that the substitution of plant species occurs across various categories of herbal medicines. This narrative aims to review the types of adulteration in herbal medicine, the analytical techniques used for detecting adulteration. In conclusion, more studies on the adulteration of HMs are required to inform health authorities and limit the use of these substances. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate and encourage regulatory policies on HMs on a worldwide scale. Relevant regulatory agencies all over the world must be proactive and keep enforcing the necessary safeguards to protect public health by ensuring that all herbal medications approved for sale are secure and of a high enough standard.

}, keywords = {Adulteration, detection methods, Herbal medicines}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2024.16.36}, author = {Arwa Ahmed Alyas and Hasan Aldewachi and Mohammed Ibrahim Aladul} } @article {885, title = {Macro-Microscopic Identification of Dried Flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. and its Differentiation from Adulterant Rhododendron arboreum Sm.}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {May 2019}, pages = {613-616}, type = {Short Communication}, chapter = {613}, abstract = {

Background: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. (Fam.Malvaceae) is a small evergreen shrub cultivated in gardens throughout India. The decoction of flowers is used in Indian system of Medicine for bronchial inflammation, urinary astringent and cardio tonic, to promote growth and to prevent graying of hair. The dried flowers of Rhododendron arboreum Sm. (Fam.Ericaceae) are morphologically looking similar to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and used as adulterant in the market. Hence, the morphological, Micro-morphological and powder microscopical studies on dried flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Rhododendron arboreum was carried out and reported. Objective: To identify the dried flowers of Hisbiscus rosa-sinensis macro-microscopically and to differentiate it from adulterant Rhododendron arboreum. Methods: The morphology and powder microscopy were observed following standard methods and photographed. Results: The colour, taste, arrangement and appearance of calyx, corolla and stamen, trichomes, calcium oxalate crystals, sclereids, oil globules and pollen grains are found to be differentiating diagnostic characters in raw drug/powdered form of dried flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Rhododendron arboreum. Conclusion: The finding of present study is helpful in standardization of formulation consists of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as ingredient in their powdered form and also for authentication/identification of dried flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

}, keywords = {Adulteration, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Macro-microscopy, Rhododendron arboreum, Semparathai}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2019.11.98}, author = {Nartunai Govindarajan and Susikumar Sundharamoorthy and Narayanan Kannan and Ilavarasan Raju} }