HERBAL DRUG FORENSICS

Authors

  • Shalvi Agrawal Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Forensic Science, Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India -382007
  • Astha Pandey

Abstract

Herbal drugs are the drugs which are obtained from natural resources. Today there is an exorbitant demand of herbal drugs in the market that promises to cure ailments naturally, but due to scarcity of medicinal plants, indiscriminate deforestation and illegal trade, there is an excessive gap between the availability of medicinal plants and drugs obtained from them which have paved the way for inundate adulteration in herbal drugs. Asparagus racemosus commonly called as Shatavari is indeed a highly rejuvenating herb for both male and female, a revitalizing tonic for most of the problems related to hormonal changes and reproductive system. Thus there is an elevated level of adulteration and substitution in the form of synthetic drugs (eg: sildenafil citrate), similar looking parts of the plant (Safed Musli), plants inducing similar properties to the herbal drugs, etc. Present case study underlines how herbal drug forensics can help in untangling the hidden harms in adulterated commercial A. racemosus root powder samples as compared to standard root powder and the need to develop this undermined area of forensic science towards a better future.

Keywords: Adulteration, Asparagus racemosus, Herbal drug forensics, , Herbal drugs, Shatavari.

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Published

2020-07-06