Abstract

Dr. N. Nirmal Kumar* and K. Ruba

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants organize an effective source of folk and modern medicine. Correct identification, authentication and quality control are essential to ensure safety, therapeutic potency, efficacy and reproducible quality of herbal medicines. In India about 80% of the rural population depends on medicinal herbs and/or indigenous system of medicine for primary healthcare. The adulteration and substitution of crude drug is a burning problem. No doubt, substitution is helpful in places where unavailability of particular crude drug and or unwanted adverse effects of desired crude drug are there and have a choice of other drug with similar pharmacological effect and less unwanted after effects. But in most cases, it is unacceptable because the conversion of authentic drug into substandard drug may cause variety of adverse effects from mild and moderate to severe life threatening reactions. So, understanding of all the ways of adulteration and substitution is necessary to rectify this illegal act and maximizing consumers' safety.