@article {1507, title = {Adulteration in Herbal Medicines: A Comprehensive Review on Types, Detection, and Health Impacts}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {17}, year = {2025}, month = {September 2025}, pages = {1116-1126}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {1116}, abstract = {

Background: Adulteration of herbal medicines is a large-scale issue that compromises the quality, safety, and therapeutic effect of herbal drugs. It entails deliberate substitution, contamination, and incorporation of undeclared synthetic compounds, which often leads to serious adverse health effects. Objectives: This review critically examines the prevalence, character, and public health impact of herbal adulteration. It also specifies present advancements in identification methods and persistent gaps in methods and authentication. Materials and Methods: A critical literature review of world case studies, pharmacopoeial reports were taken. Emphasis was placed on the prevalence of adulteration of widely used herbal medicines. Both traditional methods of analysis (chromatographic and spectroscopic) and the newer tools, like artificial intelligence-based systems for authentication and classification, were considered. Results: Substitution adulteration is the most common, up to 70-90\% in prevalent herbs like Coscinium fenestratum, Embelia ribes, and Saraca asoca. Various commercial preparations were detected to contain undeclared synthetic adulterants like corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and sildenafil. Heavy metals, microplastics, and pesticides as impurities add a triple burden of exposure, resulting in oxidative stress, endocrine disruptions, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and microbiome disruption. Though non-destructive, quick authentication techniques, most notably AI-powered image recognition and spectral analysis, are on the horizon, their application in daily quality control is still limited. Conclusion: Harmonized international regulation, more robust quality control measures, and better pharmacovigilance systems are needed urgently. Integrating interdisciplinary collaboration, building capacity, and enhancing consumer education will be key to controlling adulteration and the long-term credibility and safety of herbal medicines.

}, keywords = {Adulteration, Artificial Intelligence, Chromatography, Herbal drugs, Machine Learning, Pharmacovigilance, Toxic effects}, doi = {10.5530/pres.20250085}, author = {Ravjot Kaur and Tirath Choudhary and Ramandeep Kaur and Mansi Garg and Nagendra Singh Chauhan and Abhilasha Jain and Ashish Baldi} } @article {1310, title = {Exploring the Mechanisms and Dosages of Herbal Hepatoprotective Agents}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {16}, year = {2024}, month = {October 2024}, pages = {706-717}, type = {Review Article}, chapter = {706}, abstract = {

Herbal hepatoprotective drugs are important for managing liver health because they provide complementary or alternative treatments for the various disorders of the liver. This review provides a thorough analysis of the numerous herbal hepatoprotective drugs{\textquoteright} studied during the recent years, including their modes of action, suggested dosages, market trends, status of clinical trials and patents. The hepatoprotective properties of these herbal medicinal products are partly attributed to their mechanisms of actions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, enzyme-modulating actions, and regeneration of hepatocytes. The recommended dosages differ based on the particular plant and ailment, highlighting the necessity for individualized treatment plans and more research to achieve the best possible therapeutic results. Patented compositions and polyherbal formulations provide novel treatments with synergistic effects that improve medicinal efficacy. The increased demand for natural treatments and their potential applications in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields has resulted in a considerable and expanding market for herbal hepatoprotective agents. Notwithstanding their possible advantages, more investigation is required to clarify mechanisms of action, assess long-term safety and efficacy, and provide uniform standards for clinical application. In general, herbal hepatoprotective drugs are promising approaches to manage liver health; nonetheless, their use necessitates regulatory oversight, quality control procedures, and evidence-based practice.

}, keywords = {Dosage, Hepatoprotective Agents, Herbal drugs, Market Size, Mechanism, Patents}, doi = {10.5530/pres.16.4.82}, author = {Rajendra Prasad Menasagere Rajappa and Paramakrishnan Nallupillai and Kamsagara Linganna Krishna and Manoj Madanahalli Ramesh and Annegowda Hardur Venkatappa} } @article {987, title = {Phytochemical and GC-MS Analysis of Hydro Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Ocimum sanctum (L.)}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {13}, year = {2021}, month = {October 2021}, pages = {233-237}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {233}, abstract = {

Background: The pharmacological efficiency of herbal drugs has shown to be effective as conventional pharmaceutical drugs. Preliminary screening of herbal extracts helps in analysing the bioactive compounds present. Ocimum sanctum, the queen of herbs keeps a spiritual importance in Indian culture and have important place in traditional medicinal system of India. Objectives: The present study was implement to investigate the preliminary phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis of leaf extract of O. sanctum to determine the phytoconstituents. Materials and Methods: Leaves collected were dried, crushed and mixed with ethanol and water and further applied for extract preparation. The prepare extract was used for phytochemical and GC-MS analysis. Results: In qualitative phytochemical analysis tannins, carbohydrate, quinine, anthraquinones, coumarins, phlobatanins, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, diterpenes, phenols were found present while GC-MS analysis showed Eugenol, Cyclohexane, bicyclo[7.2.0]undec-4-ene, 4,11,11-trimethyl-8-methylene, Oxatricyclo[ 8.2.0.0(4,6)]dodecane,,12-trimethyl-9-methylene, Tetracontane, Phytol were present in majority. Conclusion: The study concluded that O. sanctum leaf extracts contain many biological active compounds which could be exploited for a development of plant based drug.

}, keywords = {Flavonoids, GC-MS Analysis, Herbal drugs, Phenolics, Phytochemical}, doi = {10.5530/pres.13.4.16}, author = {Atul Srivastava and Subhashini and Anand Kumar Keshari and Ragini Srivastava} }