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Review Paper | Medicinal Plants | Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026 | Pages: 2007 - 2011 | India
Herbal Drug Adulteration: A Threat to Safety, Efficacy, and Global Herbal Trade
Abstract: Approximately 80% of the population in developing countries depends on traditional medicines for their primary healthcare needs due to their affordability and accessibility. Historically, medicinal plants were used directly through ingestion or topical application. In modern times, however, these plants are processed and marketed in different forms such as crude drugs, powders, tinctures, teas, capsules, tablets, syrups, and various herbal formulations. Globally, more than 50,000 plant species are utilized for medicinal purposes, with countries such as China and India being major contributors to the diversity and use of medicinal plants. The increasing popularity of herbal medicines has also spread to Western countries, where plant-based remedies are often perceived as natural and safer alternatives to synthetic drugs. Despite their widespread use, the rapid expansion of the herbal medicine market has resulted in growing concerns about adulteration, substitution, and misidentification of medicinal plants. These problems arise mainly due to high demand, limited availability of authentic plant materials, morphological similarities among species, and taxonomic ambiguities. Adulteration involves the mixing or replacement of genuine plant material with inferior, defective, or harmful substances that do not meet quality standards. Such practices may reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of herbal medicines and can sometimes pose health risks. Furthermore, contamination of herbal products with pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, or synthetic substances presents additional safety concerns. Therefore, proper identification, authentication, and strict quality control measures are essential to ensure the safety, efficacy, and reliability of herbal medicines.
Keywords: Adulteration, Substitution, Medicinal Plants, Herbal Drugs, Authentication
How to Cite?: Dr. Akanksha Priya, "Herbal Drug Adulteration: A Threat to Safety, Efficacy, and Global Herbal Trade", Volume 15 Issue 7, July 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2007-2011, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26723112904, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26723112904