Siddhi’s Institute of Pharmacy, Nandgaon, Murbad, Thane, Maharashtra, India 421401
The review emphasizes the importance of the Indian Pharmacopoeia and WHO guidelines in creating international quality standards. In order to address the issues of adulteration, variability, and the absence of standard markers, it is recommended to integrate traditional knowledge with contemporary analytical tools. The study comes to the conclusion that creating safe, efficient, and widely recognized herbal medicines requires the application of cutting-edge technologies and the harmonization of international standards. The importance of quality control and standardization in guaranteeing the efficacy, safety, and authenticity of herbal medications and formulations is thoroughly covered in the review. It highlights that accurate quality assessment is essential for verifying the therapeutic efficacy and purity of herbal products. The application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) as crucial frameworks for preserving uniformity from raw materials to final products is discussed in detail in this paper. For their applications in phytochemical profiling, contaminant detection, and species authentication, advanced analytical techniques like chromatographic, spectroscopic, and molecular identification methods such as HPTLC, HPLC, FTIR, and DNA barcoding are emphasized.
Key Methods of Herbal Drug Quality Control:-
Good practices and quality management :-
Ensures the consistency and authenticity of raw herbal materials by taking into account post-harvest handling, plant part, harvest timing, and environment. By doing this, variability brought on by environmental and genetic factors is reduced [1].
Applies quality assurance throughout the manufacturing process, including batch-to-batch consistency, documentation, trained personnel, sanitation, and contamination control.
Early variation or contamination detection is made possible by performing quality checks (chemical, microbial, and physical) at various stages of production, which supports prompt remedial action [2].
Fundamental identification methods include extractive values to determine the quality of raw materials, ash values, moisture content, microscopic analysis, and sensory (color, odor) evaluation.
Quickly and non-destructively identifies samples by comparing their spectra to references.
Utilized for both qualitative and quantitative constituent analysis as well as structural insight[3].
Produces chemical fingerprints that are useful for both identification and measurement, even at microliter scales.
Allows for the highly accurate and automated separation and quantification of numerous components, including thermo-labile substances.
Focuses on contaminants and volatile components such as pesticide residues and essential oils.
Finger printing & multivariate (pattern?oriented) analysis.
Suitable when one active ingredient is the primary driver of efficacy, based on marker compounds.
Measures. Multiple active ingredients to represent the complex nature of herbal medicines. The use of a single marker to quantitatively analyze multiple components (QAMS) is a practical and economical method that is used in many pharmacopeia monographs to quantify numerous compounds by using one well-characterized compound as a reference[4].
Used to distinguish between herbal samples from various sources in conjunction with FTIR data.
Considers the entire chemical "pattern" rather than just one compound, which improves traceability and dependability in intricate herbal matrices[5].
DNA barcoding :
The barcoding of DNA uses extremely specific genetic markers that are unaffected by environmental conditions to authenticate species. DNA deterioration in processed goods is one of the limitations. Most effective when used in conjunction with chemical techniques[6].
Vital for stability testing, identifying adulteration, assessing quality, and authenticating species. Instability and a lack of pharmacological evidence continue to hinder their progress[7].
Significance in public health :-
Ensures consumer protection by detecting contaminants such as pesticides, mycotoxins, microbial pathogens, and heavy metals (such as PB, CD, and AS).
Standardization guarantees consistent therapeutic results across batches, which is essential for clinical use and trust.
Techniques such as DNA barcoding, fingerprinting, GMP, and QAMS support standardized pharmacopeia standards and regulatory frameworks (e.g., WHO guidelines, EU directives)[8]
In accordance with WHO guidelines for the safe integration of traditional medicines into national systems, responsible use is supported by strict quality control[9].
Protects the public by preventing adulteration and mislabeling and guaranteeing authenticity[10].
Definition of herbal drugs and formulations
Herbal drugs: -
Herbal medicines are made from plants or plant parts, such as leaves, stems, bark, roots, flowers, seeds, fruits, or other plant parts, and are mainly used for their medicinal qualities. They can be utilized as tinctures, extracts, or other preparations, or in their raw state.
Herbal formulations:-
A herbal formulation is a medication that contains one or more herbs and is intended to have health, nutritional, or cosmetic effects. Human and animal illnesses can be prevented or treated with these formulations [11].
Growing propularity and global market
Compared to synthetic drugs, herbal medications might be more environmentally friendly.
They are derived from plants, decompose more readily, and are frequently produced through environmentally friendly farming practices like agroforestry and intercropping, which support soil health and biodiversity preservation. On the other hand, the manufacturing of synthetic drugs results in increased pollution and frequently leaves the environment with hazardous residues. Additionally, herbal medications reduce toxic waste by using cleaner extraction techniques, such as carbon dioxide rather than harsh chemicals. In general, herbal medications are less harmful to the environment over the long term and are more biodegradable [12].herbal medicine is becoming more and more popular worldwide, particularly in developing nations. Population growth, health advantages, affordability, and the perception that herbal products are safer than prescription medications are the reasons for this. 75–80% of people worldwide use herbal medicine for basic medical care, according to the WHO [13].
Need for quality control and standardization
Human clinical trials, safety testing, and extensive research are the foundation of modern medications. However, neither the raw materials nor the final products of herbal medicines are subject to appropriate official standards. The herbal industry lacks clear guidelines for good manufacturing practices (CGMP), and many herbal products fall short of even the most basic quality requirements. Some herbal products have resulted in health issues, ranging from liver damage (hepatotoxicity) to even death, as a result of inadequate quality control. Therefore, having instruments and techniques to verify the identity, quality, and purity of herbal ingredients is crucial. These instruments ought to be fast, inexpensive, scientifically sound, and compliant with GMP guidelines[14].specific guidelines have been developed by the world health organization (WHO) to assess the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicines. The effectiveness of herbal medications can be influenced by a variety of factors, making quality control challenging. Correctly identifying the plant, picking the ideal time and location to harvest it, and meticulously processing, extracting, and purifying the herbal ingredients are all necessary first steps in ensuring high-quality herbal products[15].
WHO and Indian pharmacopoeia definitions
Who guidelines for quality control of herbal drugs:-
The WHO states that quality control of herbal products entails monitoring and overseeing various procedures to ensure their efficacy and safety. This entails selecting and managing raw materials appropriately, testing the finished product for safety, efficacy, and shelf life, documenting any risks or adverse effects based on prior usage, providing consumers with clear information, and marketing the product responsibly[16].
Indian pharmacopiea definition of herbal quality control:-
Official guidelines for the identity, quality, and purity of herbal medications and their formulations are provided by the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). The safety, effectiveness, and reproducibility of herbal products used in India are guaranteed by these standards[17].
Classification of Herbal Formulations :-
Direct expression is followed by expression juice.
Ethanol purification → Tincture.
Maceration in oil or glycerol produces glycerate, also known as oily macerate.
Using solvent extraction, supercritical CO? extraction, and hydrodistillation to extract essential oils.
Cutting → Cutting of drugs.
used to prepare decoction or tea.
Crushing: Drug fragmentation.
Maceration in oil or glycerol produces glycerate, also known as oily macerate.
Grinding → Drug powder.
Percolation or solvent extraction
Tincture and fluid extract → Concentration
Nebulization or evaporation of a dry extract (with adjuvants/excipients)
Factors affecting quality of herbal drugs :-
Microbes and mycotoxins :-
Hazardous microorganisms (germs) can also contaminate herbal medications. Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Shigella, and Streptococcus are a few of the bacteria that can be found on herbs. Some fungi (molds) produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, which include penicillic acid, citreoviridin, aflatoxins, and ochratoxins. Particularly harmful and widespread are aflatoxins.In one Brazilian study, the levels of bacteria in over half of the herbal samples were higher than permitted. Additional research conducted in South Africa, India, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia also discovered toxins and bacteria in herbal remedies. If not done correctly, contamination can occur at any point during production or storage.
Pesticides :-
Chemicals known as pesticides are used to eradicate weeds (herbicides), fungi (fungicides), and insects (insecticides). The soil, plants, and animals can retain traces of these chemicals and their byproducts. These residual chemicals are currently a major issue for herbal remedies. To reduce these pesticide residues in herbal products, organizations such as the WHO have established regulations. Herbal remedies still contain some dangerous pesticides, such as DDT and BHC, which are both organochlorine pesticides. Due to its detrimental effects, DDT has been prohibited in numerous countries for more than 30 years.
Contamination :-
Herbal medications can occasionally become contaminated with additional undesirable substances, such as additives, ash, or leftover chemicals (solvents). These may lower the product's quality. In order to ensure the safety and quality of the herbal medicine, it is crucial to minimize this.
Adulteration :-
Adulteration is the process of introducing undesirable, hazardous, or subpar ingredients to something to make it impure. This is a serious and dishonest practice in herbal medicines.
Herbal products have frequently been discovered to be combined with dangerous or unlawful substances. Three primary categories of adulteration exist:
There have even been reports of real drugs present in some herbal products. For example, a number of herbal products were found to be adulterated in states like Singapore (1.23%), New York (5.5%), and California (7%).
Sildenafil, the primary component of Viagra, was recently found in herbal tonics, for instance. It is dangerous and against the law to add these substances to herbal products in an attempt to make them appear stronger or more effective[19].
Constraints in quality determination:
There are two types of problems: internal ones, like the complexity of the ingredients, and external ones, like contamination, adulteration, and misidentification[20].
It takes a lot of work to identify several active compounds among overlapping signals. Though resource-intensive, standard chromatographic techniques (HPLC, GC, LC-MS, etc.) are essential[21].
Only about 281 out of 551 herbs in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005 edition) have even one or two chemical markers identified. This indicates that many herbs lack specific marker compounds.
Problems with marker stability and purity :-
Even when markers are present, their dependability may be compromised by chemical changes (such as gambogic acid changing when exposed to methanol).
High concentrations of a marker compound might not always be associated with biological activity. In vitro efficacy was frequently not predicted by marker standardization in studies involving eight common botanicals.
Cost and standard limitations:-
Quantification is hampered by the high cost or limited availability of genuine marker standards. This can be lessened by techniques like QAMS (quantitative analysis using a single marker for multiple compounds), but they need validation for each preparation and conversion factors[22] .
Methods of quality evaluation :-
Raw Material Evaluation:
Morphological :-
Involves examining the entire plant or a portion of it to determine its size, shape, color, texture, smell, and other distinguishing characteristics. aids in locating and evaluating the quality of unrefined herbal medications.
Microscopical :-
Examines internal plant structures under a microscope.
Identifies characteristics such as :
Physicochemical :-
Physical Evaluation:
Chemical Evaluation :-
Involves using tests to find chemical compounds that are active.
Aids in verifying :-
Biological Evaluation :-
In-process quality control and gmp implementation :
WHO Guidelines :-
The World Health Organization defines Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as "that aspect of quality assurance that guarantees that products are consistently produced and controlled to the quality standards appropriate to their intended use and as required by the marketing authorization."
GMP's core principle is that a product's quality is integrated into it rather than just tested. Thus, the guarantee is that the product is made using the same processes under the same conditions each and every time, in addition to meeting the final specifications[25].
GLP, or good laboratory practice, is a quality system that addresses the organizational process and the circumstances in which studies of environmental and health safety conducted outside of clinical settings are prepared, executed, observed, documented, preserved, and reported[26].
Importance Of Skilled Human Resources :-
According to the WHO guideline, the main obstacle to guaranteeing fair access to healthcare in rural and isolated areas is "a global shortage of well-trained, skilled, motivated health workers."
In order to support and retain qualified staff, WHO "recommends a policy of having career development and advancement programs and career pathways for health workers in rural and remote areas."[27].
Infrastructure And Laboratory Setup :-
Test facility management is required to follow Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Important responsibilities include :-
Finished product quality control :-
Phytochemical Analysis :
In complex products like medications and herbal remedies, chromatography helps separate and identify the bioactive ingredients.
Techniques Used :-
1. Specific compounds are identified using TLC and HPLC.
GC: for substances that are volatile, like essential oils and some alkaloids.
Applications:
Pharmaceuticals: Identify the main drug and its breakdown products.
Examine herbal products for significant compounds such as flavonoids and alkaloids.
To make sure the product functions and satisfies requirements, the amount of each active ingredient must be measured.
Methods Employed :-
For alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids, use HPLC.
GC: for volatile ingredients and essential oils.
Semi-quantitative analysis, or HPTLC, is helpful for herbal products.
Uses :-
Pharmaceuticals: Verify the appropriate dosage levels.
Make sure essential ingredients, such as antioxidants, are present in herbal products and cosmetics in adequate dosages.
Chromatography detects toxic substances, heavy metals, and pesticides.
Methods Employed:
For trace volatile contaminants, use GC-MS.
For non-volatile toxins, such as mycotoxins, HPLC/UHPLC is used.
Quick screening of common adulterants is known as TLC.
Uses :-
Make sure there are no hazardous residues in pharmaceuticals or herbal products.
Supplements: Find contaminants or hidden synthetic drugs.
For safety and efficacy, batch consistency is essential.
Methods Employed:
HPLC: regular quality assurance.
Cost-effective consistency testing is TLC/HPTLC.
Uses :-
Herbal Products: Manage plants' inherent diversity.
Pharmaceuticals: Comply with stringent quality standards.
Because herbal products contain a wide range of compounds, standardization is crucial.
Techniques Used:
Important markers like curcumin and ginsenosides are measured using HPLC.
TLC/HPTLC enables quick screening of multiple components.
Uses :-
Keep the active ingredients in traditional medicine at constant concentrations.
Assesses the shelf life, or duration, of a product.
Techniques Used:
HPLC: to check for changes in the active ingredients.
GC: for volatile losses, such as essential oils.
Uses :-
Drugs: Track deterioration over time.
Herbal Products: Take care to prevent adverse deterioration.
Manufacturing-related leftover solvents can be hazardous.
Methods Employed:
GC is the volatility solvent standard.
For certain non-volatile solvents, HPLC.
Uses :-
Make sure the solvents used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are kept within safe bounds.
Detects phony or modified products and verifies identity and quality.
Methods Employed:
TLC, HPLC, and HPTLC all produce distinct "chemical fingerprints."
Uses :-
Verify the species and purity of plants used in herbal products.
Pharmaceuticals: Look for fake medications[29].
Stability testing (ICH guidelines) :-
The suggested shelf life or retest period and suggested storage conditions must be supported by stability studies.
For the whole suggested shelf life, long-term testing ought to go on.
The effects of transient temperature changes, like those that occur during shipping, can be assessed using intermediate and accelerated stability data.
Accelerated data is needed for synthetic drugs in order to extrapolate shelf life.
Accelerated data facilitates analytical comparability and product understanding for biological products. While it is not used to determine biologicals' shelf life, it is highly advised that submissions include accelerated data[30].
Toxicological And Efficacy Studies :
The key elements of an in vitro or in vivo toxicology study that produces samples for omics analysis are described in the TERM. For every study, only one TERM is needed, regardless of the number of omics techniques or data analyses used[31].
Formulation-specific quality evaluation :-
Herbal Tablets :
Herbal extracts are used to make the solid pills known as herbal tablets. To create a tablet, the herbal extract is combined with additional ingredients such as tragacanth and starch and then pressed into a predetermined size and shape.
Following manufacturing, the tablets are examined to ensure they fulfill quality requirements. These tests examine the tablet's functionality as well as its contents. For as long as the product is on the market, it must adhere to these requirements.
The following tests are frequently performed on completed tablets :-
Ayurvedic asava/arishta :-
Herbal creams and lotions :-
The important evaluation criteria mentioned are:
Modern techniques in herbal QC :-
Chromatographic Methods (HPTLC, HPLC) :
1] HPTLC:-
Pharmaceutical formulations and dosage forms are tested for quality, potency, and purity using HPTLC (High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography).
It provides quick, simple, accurate, and precise analysis for determining a drug's quality[35].
2] HPLC :-
One kind is high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) utilizing liquid chromatography for separation and measurement. Pounds of material in solution that has dissolved. The concentration of a particular compound in a solution can be ascertained using HPLC.HPLC for instance can be used to ascertain the quantity of a compounded solution of morphine. In liquid and HPLC the process of chromatography involves the sample solution coming into contact with the various solutes in the sample's second liquid or solid phase as mentioned earlier, the stationary phase will interact with the solution. Differentiation can be aided by the ways in which they interact with the column.
Assign a distinct rating to every component of the sample. Chromatographic techniques for ensuring quality[36].
3] Spectroscopic techniques (NMR, FTIR) :-
Spectroscopic techniques like Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Near-Infrared (NIR), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are more focused on the comprehensive and integrated properties of herbal medicines (HM) than traditional chromatographic methods.
Rapid and precise identification and chemical composition analysis of herbal materials is made possible by FT-IR and NIR spectroscopy.
NMR spectroscopy offers comprehensive structural details about the chemical compounds found in plant extracts or herbal medications.
NMR provides a thorough method that enables the identification of constituents, their concentrations, and potential adulteration.
Various NMR Technique Types Include:-
CONCLUSION
Summary of Key Quality Challenges :
It can be difficult to guarantee high-quality herbal medicines. Risks like contamination and adulteration can be decreased by putting GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) into practice. Utilizing contemporary analytical techniques aids in the production of consistently high-quality herbal products. Progress in quality control is still restricted to specific areas, though. More research and stricter government regulations are required to raise overall quality[37].
Need For Harmonization of Global Guidelines:-
It is imperative that herbal health claims be harmonized globally. Able and appealing from a medical and financial standpoint. The unrestricted flow of secure and efficient herbal remedies. Globally, pharmaceuticals will raise standards of living by strengthening the development of nations, enhance healthcare, and advance WHO's objective of "health for everyone" But for others, additional scientific data , it will be necessary to provide well-thought-out, clinical trials, basic scientific research, and trolling. But a global business like that needs a global reaction. What is required is an organized, honest, and resolute effort to combine the knowledge of healthcare. Scientists and professionals from academia and industry from all over the world, having the funds to do the work. This objective is a first step in that direction[38].
Integration of Modern Techniques with Traditional Practices :-
Despite several obstacles, Indian traditional medicine is widely accepted worldwide, and the demand is growing steadily. Government and public cooperation are crucial to the advancement of herbal medicine[39].Both traditional and modern metrics are used to assess the quality in addition to standardizing the raw and finished materials. Many methods like the standardization of chemical and organoleptic drugs .Bioassay and investigation are used in this situation[40].
REFERENCES
Rutuja Pawar, Mayuri Salve, Priyanka Suroshe, Shweta Bunde, Avinash Gunjal, Comprehensive Review on Quality Control and Standardization of Herbal Drugs and Formulations, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 12, 3704-3719. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18063179
10.5281/zenodo.18063179