@article {1404, title = {Advancements in Quantitative and Qualitative Methods for Quality Control of Herbal Drugs: A Comprehensive Review}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {April 2025}, pages = {411-415}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {411}, abstract = {

The quality control of herbal drugs is a critical aspect of ensuring their safety, efficacy and reliability. The complex composition of herbal products, influenced by environmental, genetic and processing factors, necessitates robust analytical approaches. This review highlights recent advancements (2020-2024) in quantitative and qualitative methods for herbal drug quality control. Quantitative methods, such as HPLC, GC, and NMR spectroscopy, focus on the precise measurement of bioactive compounds, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency. Complementary to these are qualitative methods, including DNA barcoding, TLC and phytochemical screening, which authenticate botanical sources and detect adulterants. The integration of these methodologies provides a comprehensive framework for quality assessment, addressing both compositional consistency and authenticity. Despite advancements, challenges such as variability in raw materials and the lack of universal standards persist. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome these challenges and standardize quality control practices globally. By leveraging recent technological innovations, the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies can ensure the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines, fostering consumer confidence and adherence to regulatory requirements.

}, keywords = {Bioactive compounds, Chromatographic techniques, DNA Barcoding, Herbal, Plants, Qualitative, Quality control, Quantitative, Regulatory Standards, Spectrometry}, doi = {10.5530/pres.20252077}, author = {Seema Devi} } @article {1118, title = {FTIR Based Metabolomics Profiling and Fingerprinting of Some Medicinal Plants: An Attempt to Develop an Approach for Quality Control and Standardization of Herbal Materials}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2022}, pages = {163-167}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {163}, abstract = {

Background: The medicinal plants are used for their various therapeutic effects in treatment and prevention of various diseases. Recently herbal medicines are playing an important role in health care across the world. With increased global acceptance of the herbal drugs proper quality control of the herbal medicines have become important to ensure the safety and efficacy of the herbal products. Herbal-based FT-IR metabolomics is a suitable method for quick and reliable quality control and metabolite profiling to ensure quality and reproducibility of herbal medicine. The FT-IR analysis is relatively easy to use, reproducible, non-destructive, and can be used for quick analysis and verification of the herbal medicines. Materials and Methods: In the present work FTIR fingerprint was obtained for extracts and powders of some of the selected medicinal plants. The samples were characterized by using FTIR metabolomics profiling on basis of the diagonostic peaks. Results: Various functional groups, such as phenolics (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), aldehyde (CH=O), ether (C-O-C), aromatic (C=C), and alkyl groups -CH, were identified. Various metabolites e.g. liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, glabridin, shogoal, piperine were successfully identified on basis of the diagonostic FTIR peaks. Conclusion: FTIR was found to be a simple, rapid and convenient analytical method and fingerprinting technique for quality control of herbal materials.

}, keywords = {Fingerprinting, FTIR, Medicinal plants, Metabolomics, Quality control, Secondary metabolites}, doi = {10.5530/097484900288}, author = {Manas Ranjan Sahoo and Marakanam Srinivasan Umashankara} } @article {1205, title = {Quality Control and Acute Toxicity Study of Habb-i-Hayat (Unani Formulation) in Albino Wistar Rats}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2023}, month = {December 2023}, pages = {98-109}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {98}, abstract = {

Background: Several reports acknowledge that herbal products produce toxicities due to their poor quality. Hence, the worldwide promotion of traditional medicines is not at par due to a lack of quality control and safety aspects. Habb-i-Hayat, a Unani formulation, is used for the treatment of various bodily ailments. Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating the quality control and acute toxicity of Habb-i-Hayat. Materials and Methods: The standardization and quality control study of Habb-i-Hayat, including organoleptic characters, physicochemical properties, qualitative phytochemical evaluation, microbial load, aflatoxins and heavy metals analysis, and HPTLC, were carried out. The acute toxicity study of the same was carried out at three dose levels following OECD guidelines 423. Results: The quality control findings of Habb-i-Hayat, including by weight variation, hardness, friability, moisture content, ash values, swelling index, etc., were found within the normal limits. The TBC and TFC were found within the permissible limits. The heavy metal analysis report showed that the heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, were present within the permissible limits. The number of peaks, Rf values, and area under the curve found in the HPTLC study may be used for identification and quality of Habb-i- Hayat. The toxicity data of Habb-i-Hayat revealed that it produces some serious toxic control effects including death at higher doses. The LD50 of Habb-i-Hayat was found to be 2500 mg/kg b. w. for rats. Conclusion: The standardization and quality control reports of Habb-i-Hayat have suggested that the preparation, drying, and storage of Habb-i-Hayat followed standard operating procedures. Moreover, the findings of standardization and quality control of Habb-i-Hayat may be referred in future. The acute toxicity profile of Habb-i-Hayat has confirmed that this important Unani formulation may be safely used at therapeutic dose levels.

}, keywords = {Acute toxicity, Habb-i-Hayat, Quality control, Standardization, Unani formulation}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.1.12}, author = {Ifra Qayoom and Athar Parvez Ansari and Ansari Huzaifa and Mohd Musaib Bhat and Bazilah Majeed Reshi and Pankaj Goswami and Noman Anwar} } @article {177, title = {Determination of Flavan-3-ols by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Photodiode Array, Antioxidant Potential, Antimicrobial Activity and Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Maytenus obtusifolia (Mart.) Leaves}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, month = {August 2020}, pages = {313-321}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {313}, abstract = {

Background: Maytenus obtusifolia Mart. (Syn. Monteverdia obtusifolia Mart. Biral), Celastraceae, is a species located on the coast of Brazil, which is commonly used as anti-inflammatory and on the treatment of gastric ulcers. Objectives: The aim of this study consists of the determination of quality control parameters of the plant material, as well as to develop, validate high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array methodology for the quantification of its analytical markers and evaluate the antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of the extract. Materials and Methods: The plant material and ethanolic crude extract (ECE) were evaluated through pharmacopoeial and nonpharmacopoeial methods. Anti-oxidant assay was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Minimum inhibitory concentration was used to evaluate antimicrobial activity assay. Results: The assays have provided the following results: granulometry (d50 0.82 mm), moisture content (6.41\%{\textendash}9.03\%), pH of aqueous solution (5.41), apparent bulk density (0.41 mg/mL), heavy metals (\<10 ppm), total ash (5.20\%), and sulfated ash content (6.36\%). Total flavonoid (2.14\%; 6.24\%), tannin (6.51\%; 17.85\%), and phenolic content (41.95; 134.76 mg AG/g) regarding leaves powder and its ECE, respectively. The validated method was specific, linear, precise, accurate, and robust. The content of (-)-Epigallocatechin, (+)-Catechin and (-)-Epicatechin on the ECE was 1.00\%, 0.40\%, and 0.33\%, respectively. The anti-oxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay and have presented an IC50 at 18.01 μg/mL. In addition, the most important antimicrobial activity of the ECE was against Aspergillus flavus (MIC at 128 μg/mL). Conclusion: These data have demonstrated to be very useful toward the analysis and pharmacognostic quality control of M. obtusifolia Mart.

}, keywords = {Bom-nome, Flavan-3-ols, Maytenus obtusifolia, Pharmacognostic evaluation, Quality control}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_9_20}, author = {Diego Igor Alves Fernandes de Ara{\'u}jo and Anny Palloma de Lima Arruda Fernandes and Anderson Angel Vieira Pinheiro and Augusto Lopes Souto and Kaio Arag{\~a}o Sales and Priscylla Rayama Alves Fernandes de Ara{\'u}jo and Rodrigo Silva de Andrade and Marcelo Sobral da Silva} } @article {183, title = {Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Carapa guianensis Aubl. Leaves: A Medicinal Plant Native from Brazilian Amazon}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {11}, year = {2019}, month = {November,2019}, pages = {333-338}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {333}, abstract = {

Background: Carapa guianensis Aubl., known as crabwood, has been used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and for the treatment of flu and colds. Objective: The present study aimed to establish the pharmacognostic features of C. guianensis leaves. Materials and Methods: The leaves were investigated according to the World Health Organization guideline on the pharmacognostic specification, which comprised macroscopic and microscopic assessment, phytochemical screening, and physicochemical characterization of the leaves, besides the microscopic analysis of the powder. Results: Leaves were characterized as a compound, coriaceous with elliptic shape, entire margin, acuminate apex, obtuse base, and opposite phyllotaxis. The epidermis has straight periclinal and anticlinal walls. Calcium oxalate crystals were observed in druses, anomocytic stomata just on a lower side (hypostomatic), and dorsiventral mesophyll. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, and steroids in the crude extract. The values of the physicochemical parameters such as total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and loss on drying are 7.16\%, 1.03\% and 7.93\%, respectively; the ethanol and water-soluble extractive values are 19.47\% and 15.97\%, respectively. Conclusion: The information obtained with botanical, physicochemical, and phytochemical studies could be used to identify C. guianensis and to certify the authenticity of commercial samples.

}, keywords = {Andiroba, Morphoanatomy, Phytochemical screening, Quality control, Rutin.}, doi = {10.4103/pr.pr_41_19}, author = {T{\'a}ssio R{\^o}mulo Silva Ara{\'u}jo Luz and Jos{\'e} Antonio Costa Leite and Samara Ara{\'u}jo Bezerra and Ludmilla Santos Silva de Mesquita and Edilene Carvalho Gomes Ribeiro and Jos{\'e} Wilson Carvalho De Mesquita and Daniella Patr{\'\i}cia Brand{\~a}o Silveira and Maria Cristiane Aranha Brito and Cris{\'a}lida Machado Vilanova and Flavia Maria Mendon{\c c}a do Amaral and Denise Fernandes Coutinho} } @article {364, title = {Botanical and Chemical Fingerprinting of Medicinal Roots of Justicia gendarussa Burm f.}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {April 2017}, pages = {208-214}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {208}, abstract = {

Background: Justicia gendarussa Burm f. of family Acanthaceae is medicinally important herb used in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, asthma, hepatic injuries, pathogenic infection and also shows antiproliferative activity against various cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Pharmacognostical evaluation (macro-microscopy, physicochemical analysis and preliminary phytochemical analysis), high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting and chemical profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) of dried roots of J. gendarussa were done according to quality standard procedures. Results: Microscopic analysis revealed the compact arrangement of cells in cork region and thin-walled cortex beneath epidermis. Parenchymatous cells with xylem vessel were observed in the roots of J. gendarussa. Physicochemical studies revealed loss on drying (10.474\%), total ash (2.990\%), acid-insoluble ash (0.099\%), water-soluble ash (1.528\%), alcohol-soluble extractive value (0.564\%) and water-soluble extractive value (4.11\%) of the raw drug. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extract of J. gendarussa showed the presence of alkaloid, steroid, flavonoid, phenol, carbohydrate, saponin and quinone. Rf, color of the spots and densitometric scan were recorded by HPTLC fingerprinting using toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (5.0:4.0:1.0). On photodocumentation, six spots were visualized under 254 nm, nine spots under 360 nm and six spots at 620 nm. Identification of components in ethanolic extract of J. gendarussa was done by GC-MS. GC-MS results in the presence of oleic acid, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid and estra-1, 3,5 (10)-trein-17-β-ol in ethanolic extract of J. gendarussa. Conclusion: These specific identities will be useful in identification and authentication of the raw drug in dried form.

}, keywords = {Gas chromatography-mass specrtometry analysis, High-performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting, Justicia gendarussa, Pharmacognostic, Quality control}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.204643}, author = {Deepa Yadav and Mohd Salim Reshi and Chhavi Uthra and Sadhana Shrivastava and Nalini Srivastava and Sunil Kumar Koppala Narayana and Sangeeta Shukla} }