7/31/2019 IJEB 49(10) (Book Review 1)

1/2

Indian Journal of Experimental BiologyVol. 49, October 2011, pp. 795-796

Book Review

Quality standards of Indian medicinal plants,Vol. 9, edited by Neeraj Tandon, published by IndianCouncil of Medical Research, New Delhi. 2011,pages xxv+415. Hardbound. Rs. 1792/=, US$ 120/=ISSN: 0972-7213

Crude drugs are the starting raw material formanufacturing herbal medicines in all theindigenous systems of medicine. Efficacy and

safety of any medicine depends on the genuinenessand quality of the raw materials used in itspreparation. Because of wide-spread belief thatherbal medicines are safer than synthetic drugs,demand of medicinal plants has increased manyfolds in the national and international markets tomeat the needs of traditional and modernmedicines, nutraceuticals, food supplements, herbalcosmetics, and toiletry products. As cultivation ofmedicinal plants in India is limited, over 90%medicinal plants are being harvested from the wildhabitats to meet ever-growing demands of nationaland international market. But, due to variousfactors natural habitats of medicinal plants aredestroying. As a result, natural population ofmedicinal plants is depleting. Consequently,availability of these medicinal plants is decreasing.This has resulted in a gap in demand and supply,leading to adulteration and substitution for genuinematerial. The usages of such adulterated or spuriousraw materials for manufacturing medicinedeteriorates the quality and efficacy of the finishedproduct. Moreover, the adulterants may have toxiccompounds that can produce deleterious effect onhuman health. Therefore, correct botanical identityand authenticity of the crude drug materials must beensured before using the same for preparingmedicine. Keeping the above in view, the IndianCouncil of Medical Research (ICMR) is bringingout a series titled, Quality standards of Indianmedicinal plants. The volume 9 of the seriescontains monographs on 35 plants.

This volume is divided into three main sectionsi.e. Monographs, Appendices and Indices. Eachmonograph starts with the parts used, correct

botanical name with authority and synonyms alongwith main trade name followed by habit anddistribution of the plant. Good photographs of theplants and their parts and vernacular names known indifferent languages are appended. Under the

description, detailed macroscopic and microscopiccharacters of different parts of the plant with specialemphasis on diagnostic characteristics, organoleptic

examination of the raw material and its powder aregiven. The macro and microscopic descriptions ofthe raw drugs are supported by good

microphotographs of each monograph. Under thesubhead, Chemical constituents, major and minorchemical constituents have been described.Identification of crude drug samples by Thin LayerChromatography (TLC) has been described withgood details giving Rf values, the colour bands alongwith colour photographs of TLC patterns. Analyticalmethods for the identification of each drug aredescribed in detail. Quantitative standards such as

foreign matter, acid insoluble ash, ethanol solubleextractive and water soluble extractives, which playan important role in drug standardization are alsoprovided for each drug. Other important aspects ofthe herbal drugs described are: pharmacology, majortherapeutic claims, safety and recommended dose.

Since many herbal sources of a drug and itsadulterants are quite common, adulterants andsubstitutes of the drugs have also been providedwherever available. Therapeutic claims, dose andsafety aspects of each drug have also been given.

Under the Appendix I, methods of evaluation of

crude drugs have been describes in detail.Phytochemical evaluation of raw materials isdescribed in Appendix II. Methods for isolation of themarker compounds have been provided in AppendixIII. Proper drying and adequate storage facilities arerequired for maintaining quality of the raw materials.These facilities have been described in Appendix IV.

The guideline of FAO and WHO for analyticalmethods for pesticides residues and microbialcontaminations are given in Appendix V. Plant

7/31/2019 IJEB 49(10) (Book Review 1)

2/2

INDIAN J EXP BIOL, OCTOBER 2011796

allotted to different ICMR institutions for developingthese quality standards are listed in Appendix VI.

Botanical names, chemical constituents and other

names of the plants are given in Index I, II and IIIrespectively.The volume will be useful for academicians,

researchers, drug testing laboratories, healthprofessionals and regulatory authorities, plant basepharmaceutical industries, crude drug dealers, and

those who are engaged in identification andstandardization of crude drugs.

Dr. H. B. SinghRaw Materials Herbarium & Museum

National Institute of Science CommunicationAnd Information Resources (NISCAIR), CSIR

Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110 012, India