Understanding the need for developing a mechanism for checking the authenticity of raw drugs and in accordance with WHO's stress on ensuring the quality of the plant drugs and evolving standards for genuine sources, the Centre for Medicinal Plants Research (CMPR), Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal has evolved standardization procedures using Anatomical and Phytochemical parameters.

Phytochemical characterization of raw drug plays an important role in standardization process. This is achieved by identity test based on chemical groups and by performing TLC, HPTLC, HPLC and GC fingerprinting. "So far we have carried out fingerprinting of more than hundred plants, which can be used as standards in the industry. Assay of bioactive markers are also being carried out by various analytical techniques," said Dr Indira Balachandran, project director, CMPR.

Secondly, by using a Computerized Herb Authentication System, the anatomical features of genuine raw drugs are stored in the database, which could be retrieved for comparison with subsequent samples and floor level checking. For this, detailed anatomical and histochemical characterization of the raw drugs is being carried out.

"The cell inclusions, anatomy and the cell structure are diagnostic in identification of raw drugs. These characters can be used as marker tools to distinguish the genuine medicinal plants. Preparing a database of the diagnostic figures as a standard for each raw drug is highly useful for the quick and easy way of checking the authenticity of raw drugs. Ample evidences are there to prove the accuracy of this device for standardization and quality control of raw drugs used in Ayurvedic medicines," said Dr Indira.

She further stated," One of the major problems the herbal industry faces today is the scarcity of genuine herbs in required quantities and the consequent substitution/adulteration by easily available and spurious ones. The dwindling medicinal plant resource base due to indiscriminate destruction of forests and natural habitats together with unscientific extraction of the plant parts has led to this state of affairs."

To maintain official standards for drug purity, the CMPR has prepared its own in house histological standards of 150 genuine raw drugs and digitized the most identifying histological images using a computer controlled microscopic system and stored in the data base with all the diagnostic characters. For quick quality checking, these standard can be retrieved as and when required.