The commercial consumption of

medicinal plants has shown

tremendous growth making it a
68 Billion US $ industry with
about 30% growth

43
Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS IN TRADE
(A case study of adulterants and their identification)
Abstract
Out of about 46,000 plant species described in India around
6000 species are used as medicinal plants in all the codified and non
codified systems of medicine prevalent in India. From these, 2400
species are documented in codified medicinal systems namely
Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Swa-rigpa (Tibetan), Homoeopathy and
Western and 3600 species are exclusively used by ethnic
communities across the various ecosystems in the country. Around a
1000 species used by codified systems are also used by the ethnic
communities. Thus, the ethnic communities totally use around 4600
species. Out of these 6000 medicinal plants 960 species are in trade
for manufacturing medicines by more than 9000 licensed
manufacturing units all over the country.
Under the crude drug identification services of NISCAIR, 3586
crude drug samples have been received for identification from
various plant based pharmaceutical companies, traders of
medicinal plants, crude drug dealers, research students and
teachers from various Universities, Colleges of Pharmacy, and
scientists from various Research Institutions, during April 1998 to
November 2008. Out of them, 401 samples have been found
botanically erroneous. The usage of such adulterated or spurious
raw materials for manufacturing medicine in place of genuine one is
responsible for lowering quality and efficacy of the drug because the
adulterated material may not have the active compound. Moreover,
it may have toxic compound that may cause deleterious effect on
human health. Consequently, reliability of the finished products at
national and international level is affected and betraying the faith of
people on Indian Systems of Medicine.
For the protection of consumer's interest, correct botanical
identity of the crude drug is essential. Unfortunately there is no
single method to assure 100 per cent correct identification of the
crude drug material but the goal can be achieved through the
application of a variety of different methodologies. The whole
process starts with from the collection of the material and keeping
good voucher specimens that act as reference material followed by
macroscopic and microscopic examinations, Chemical analysis and
DNA-based techniques. Therefore, the present study suggests that
correct botanical identity and authenticity of the crude drug
materials must be ensured before using the same for preparing
medicine.
Introduction
Crude drugs are the starting raw material for manufacturing
herbal medicines. Efficacy of any medicine depends on the
genuineness and quality of the raw materials used for its
preparation. In the days of yore, Vaidyas or Hakims were well
acquainted with the herbs used by them as medicine for treatment
of an ailment. They were not only used to collect medicinal plants
from the nearly forests, but also preparing various drug
formulations themselves as per needs of the patients. Therefore,
44 Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade
Medherb Green Pages - India and Indonesia 2009
there was a least chance of using material other than the genuine
one as medicine. But present day scenario is entirely different and
has gone dramatic change during the last century on account of the
shift of manufacturing process from home scale produce to
industrial production and most of the herbal practitioners and plant
based Pharmaceutical Companies largely depend upon the crude
drug dealers and traders to meet their requirement of raw materials.
Today over 700 manufactured products are prepared by more than
9000 licensed manufacturing units in India and the annual domestic
consumption by the Indian herbal Industry during the year 2005-
2006 was 1,70,000 MT (Ved & Goraya, 2007). Because of wide spread
belief that herbal medicines are safer than synthetic drugs, demand
of medicinal plants has increased many fold in the national and
international markets. Besides, demands of medicinal plants are also
increasing to meat the needs of modern medicines, nutraceuticals,
food supplements, herbal cosmetics, and toiletry products in
national and international markets. It is estimated that the current
domestic turnover of herbal products in India is in between Rs. 7000
to 8000 crores per annum. Foreign trade related to finish herbal
products as well as raw materials is Rs. 3,600 crores per annum.
Further, the domestic as well as export turnover of herbal products
in India will increase up to Rs. 14,500/- and 9,000/- crores
respectively by 2012 (Anonymous, 2008).
Thus the commercial exploitation of medicinal plants at global
level has shown tremendous growth making it a 68 Billion US $
industry with about 30% annual growth, which is expected to touch
one trillion US $ by 2020 and 5 Trillion US $ by the years 2050 (Singh,
2007).
As cultivation of medicinal plants in India is limited, over 90
percent medicinal plants are being harvested from the wild habitats
to meet ever-growing demands of national and international
market. But, due to various natural and man made factors like earth
quakes, landslides, Tsunamy, floods, draughts, Forest wildfires,
population growth, urbanization, industrialization, mining,
construction of highways, dams, introduction of exotic species,
increase in agriculture land, slash or burn agriculture practices,
grazing, over exploitation, injudicious or unscientific collection from
wild, illegal trade in endangered species, etc. natural habitats of
medicinal plants are destroying. As a result, natural population of
medicinal plants is depleting. Recently, International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has reported
that over 200 Indian medicinal plants have come at the verge of
danger of threat (Singh, 2007). Consequently, availability of these
medicinal plants is decreasing. Due to less availability of medicinal
plants and high demand of these plants, there is a gap in demand
and supply that lead to adulteration and substitution for genuine
material. The works carried out on identification of spurious crude
drugs have been reviewed by Mehrotra et al (2003). Singh & Kumar
(2005) are of the opinion that about 9.48 percent crude drug
samples found spurious in the market. The usages of such
adulterated or spurious raw materials for manufacturing medicine
deteriorate the quality and efficacy of the finished product.
 Medherb Green Pages - India and Indonesia 2009 Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade

Moreover, the adulterants may be having toxic compounds that may
produce deleterious effect on human health. Because of this,
reliability of the finished products at national and international level
is affected and betraying the faith of people on Indian System of
Medicine. For instance, recently, countries like USA, Canada, and
European Union have imposed ban on consumption of some of the
Indian Ayurvedic medicines.
Keeping in view the above, National Institute of Science
Communication And Information Resources (NISCAIR), a
constituent establishment of the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR), New Delhi has set up Raw Materials Herbarium &
Museum Delhi (RHMD). The RHMD has been recognized by the
Index Herbariorum, New York, USA, a constituent establishment of
the International Association of Plant Taxonomists (IAPT) and New
York Botanical Gardens, USA. The acronym RHMD has been allotted
to it by them.
RHMD houses over 7000 authentic Herbarium specimens, 2200
crude drug samples, 200 Zoological specimens and 225 mineral
samples, which have been acquired by donation from the regional
centres of Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India
(ZSI), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Council for Research
in Ayurverda & Siddha (CCRAS), and from the national laboratories
like National Botanical Research Institute, (NBRI), Lucknow, Central
Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow, Forest Research Institute,
Dehradun, North –East Institute of Science & Technology, (NEIST)
Jorhat, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, (IIIM), Jammu,
Institute of Minerals & Metals (IMMT), Bhubaneswar and several
other departments of various Universities, and also collected
through field collections by our staff from all over the country.
These authentic samples have been preserved in RHMD and being
used as standard reference materials while identifying the crude
drug samples.
Materials and methods
Under the crude drug identification services, 3486 crude drug
samples have been received during April 1998 to November 2008
for identification, either in botanical name(s) or in Trade, local or
English name(s), from various plant based pharmaceutical
companies, traders of medicinal plants, crude drug dealers, research
students, faculty members of various universities and pharmacy
colleges, and scientists of research institutions. These samples are
deposited in RHMD for future references.
Soon after receiving the crude drug sample(s) they have been
studied under binocular microscope (BM) for their physical
appearance followed by soaking them in lukewarm water for 2-4
hours, depending upon the hardness of the material, for softening
tissues. The techniques for studying macroscopic and microscopic
characters were followed by Stace (1965), Gupta (2003) and Lohar
(2007). The characters observed under microscope were matched
with the characters described in published literature like the Wealth
of India, an encyclopedia of raw materials, the Ayurvedic
Pharmacopoeia of India, the Unani Pharmacopoeia of India,
Illustrated manual of herbal drugs used in Ayurveda, Indian Materia
Medica, Indian Medicinal Plants, and various regional, state and
national floras. For checking English, regional or trade names,
besides the above said books, Torkelson (1999) and Kareem (1997)
have also been followed. To ensure correct identity, detailed
comparative studies of the sample(s) received for identification were
carried out with those authentic crude drug samples deposited in
RHMD.
Results
Results obtained after critical study of the crude drug samples
received for identification are given in Tables I , II and III.

Table 1 :
Year-wise breakup of samples received and identified during Apr. 1998 to Nov. 2008, and the percentage of samples found incorrect.
Sl no. Year No. of samples No. of samples No. of samples found Percentage of
received found correct spurious /incorrect spurious samples
1. 1998-1999 88 68 20 22.72
2. 1999-2000 72 59 13 18.05
3. 2000-2001 188 173 15 7.97
4. 2001-2002 232 217 15 6.46
5. 2002-2003 316 291 25 7.91
6. 2003-2004 312 268 44 14.10
7. 2004-2005 323 292 31 9.59
8. 2005-2006 718 649 69 9.61
9. 2006-2007 426 388 38 8.92
10. 2007-2008 401 326 75 18.70
11. 2008-2009 410 354 56 13.65
Total 3486 3085 401 11.50
(Average)

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Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade Medherb Green Pages - India and Indonesia 2009

Table 2 :
Samples received by botanical name(s) identified as incorrect
Sl no. Probable trade name Sample received as Part Sample identified as
1 Biranjasif, Gandana Achillea millefolium Linn. Seeds Pimpinella anisum Linn.
2 Atis Nepali Aconitum napellus Linn. Rhizome Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf
3 Bankhor, Pangar Aesculus indica Colebr. Seeds Entada pursaetha DC.
4 Dad Mari, Kurand ghas Ammannia baccifera Linn. Whole plant Corchorus depressus (L.) C. Chr.
syn. C. antichorus Raeusch.
5 Malaria plant, Sweet annie. Artemisia annua Linn. Whole plant Artemisia nilagirica (C.B. Clarke) Pamp.
6 Artemisia moorcroftiana Wall. Whole plant Artemisia brevifolia Wall. ex DC.
7 Shatawar Asparagus racemosus Willd. Root Asparagus sarmentosus Linn.
Asparagus adscendens Roxb.
Asparagus gonocladus Baker
Asparagus curillus Wall.
8 Neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Leaves Melia azedarach Linn.
9 Pot Marigold Calendula officinalis Linn. Whole plant Tagetes errecta Linn.
Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.
10 Kusum Carthamus tinctorius Linn. Whole plant Verbesina encelioides(C.)Benth. & H. ex A.
11 Tarwar Cassia auriculata Linn. Flowers Peltophorum pterocarpum Back. ex K. H.
12 Pawad Cassia tora Linn. Flowers Senna montana (B. Heyne ex Roth) V. Singh,
syn. Cassia montana B. Heyne ex Roth.
13 Brahma-manduki Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Whole plant Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier f.
syn. Merremia gangetica (L.) Cufo
14 Kasni Cichorium intybus Linn. Roots Stem of Cichorium intybus Linn.
15 Dalchini Cinnamomum zeylanicum Breyn. Bark Cinnamomum impressinervium Miessn.
Cinnamomum cassia Blume
Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm.
16 Crysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin. Whole plant Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv.
syn. Andropogon contortus Linn.
17 Kachur Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. Rhizome Hedychium spicatum Buch. –Ham.
18 Akasbel Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Whole plant Cuscuta chinensis Lamk.
Cuscuta hyalina Heyne ex Roth.
Mollugo cerviana (L.) Seringe
19 Dhub, Hariali Cynodon dactylon Pers. Whole plant Poa annua Linn.
20 Dioscorea villosa Linn. Root/Rhizome Dioscorea deltoidea Wall.
21 Kulthi Dolichos biflorus Linn. Seeds Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lamk.) Verdc.
syn. Dolichos uniflorum Lam.
22 Vai-Vidang Embelia ribes Linn. Fruits Embelia tsjeriam
–cottam ( Roems & Schult.) A. DC.
23 Field Horse Tail Equisetum arvense Linn. Whole plant Equisetum diffusum D. Don
24 Dudhi Euphorbia hirta Linn. Whole plant Enicostimma hyssopifolium (Willd.) V.
syn. E. littorale Blume
25 Saunf Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Roots Stem of Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
26 Kavitha, Kaith Feronia elephantum Correa Fruits Hydnocarpus alpina Wight
27 Pitpara Fumaria officinaslis Linn. Whole plants Fumaria vaillantii Loisel.
syn. F. indica Pugsley
28 Yellow Gentian Gentiana lutea Linn. Whole plant Valeriana officinalis Linn.
29 Anantmool Hemidesmus indicus R.Br. Roots Decalepis hamiltonii Wight. & Arn.
30 Bassant, Balsana Hypericum perforatum Linn. Whole plant Hypericum dyeri Rehder
Hypericum oblongifolium Choisy
Syn.H. cernuum Roxb.
H. elodeoides Choisy
H.oblongifolium Choisy
Reinwardtia indica Dun.

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Sl no. Probable trade name Sample received as Part Sample identified as

31 Ghiabati, Panch-patri Ipomoea pestigridis Linn. Whole plant Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urban.
syn. Ipomoea pentaphylla Jacq.
32 Jivanti Leptadenia reticulata Wight & Arn. Roots Ephemerantha macraei (L.) Hunt & Sum,
syn. Dendrobium macraei Lindl.
33 Karvitori Luffa amara Roxb. Seeds Citrullus colocynthis Schrad.
Luffa acutangula (Linn.) Roxb.
Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.J.Roem.
34 Nisoth (White) Operculina turpithum(L.) Silva Manso Root Marsdenia tenacissima W.& A.
35 Saunf, Badian Pimpinella anisum Linn. Seeds Anethum sowa Kurz.
36 Pipali / Piplamool Piper longum Linn. Root Stem of Piper longum Linn.
37 Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Whole plant Persicaria glabra (Willd.)M.Gómez
syn. Polygonum glabrum Willd.
38 Anar Punica granatum Linn. Fruits Rinds of Punica granatum Linn.
39 Garden Rue Ruta graveolens Linn. Whole plant Euphorbia dracunculoides Lam.
40 White Willow, Vivir, Malchang Salix alba Linn. Bark Valeriana pyrolaefolia Decne
41 Tukham malanga Salvia aegyptiaca Linn. Seeds Lallemantia royleana Benth.
42 Bala Sida cordifolia Linn. Whole plant Ephedra gerardiana Wall.
Sida alba Linn.
Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borrs.
43 Smilax officinalis Kunth. Rhizome Marsdenia tennacissima W. & A.
44 Jhav, Jhau Tamarix gallica auct.non Linn. Fruits Galls of Tamarix troupii Hope
syn. Tamarix gallica auct non Linn.
45 Tanacetum parthenifolium(W)Sch.Bip. Whole plant Cotula hemisphaerica (Roxb.) Babu
46 Red Clover, Trepaira Trifolium pratense Linn. Flowers Carthamus tinctorius Linn.
47 Uncaria tomentosa (W. ex Schult.)DC Fruits Martynia annua Linn.
48 Bichhu Booti, Chichru Urtica dioca Linn. Whole plant Borago officinalis Linn.
49 Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis Linn. Root Valeriana jatamansi Jones
syn. V. wallichii DC.

Table 3 :
Samples received by Trade/English name(s), identified incorrect
Sl no. Sample received Expected vide literature Part Sample identified as
1 Al Morinda citrifolia Linn. Leaves Morus alba Linn.
2 Anjubar Polygonum bistorta Linn. Whole plant Bistorta vivipara (L.) Delarbre
syn. Polygonum viviparum Linn.
3 Anantamul Amaranthus caudatus Linn. Root Ichnocarpus frutescens R.Br.
Hemidesmus indicus R.Br.
Tylophora indica (Burm.f) Merrill.
Syn. T. asthamatica Wight. & Arn.
4 Asaroon Asaram europaeum Linn. Root Valeriana jatamansi Jones
5 Ashoka Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Wide. Bark Polyalthea longifolia Thw.
Syn. S. indica auct. non Linn.
6 Babuna Corchorus depressus (L.) C. Chr. Whole plant Brassica compestris Hook.f. & Thoms.
Cotula anthemoides Linn.
Matricaria chamomilla Linn.
7 Bala Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet Whole plant Malvastrum coromandelianum Garcke
Amomum subulatum Roxb. Siegesbeckia orientalis L.
Barleria strigosa Wall.
Hibiscus tiliaceus L.
Paederia foetida L.
Pavonia odorata Willd.
Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Cav.

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Sl no. Sample received Expected vide literature Part Sample identified as

Plectranthus vettiveroides (Jacob) Singh & Sharma
Sida acuta Burm.f.
Sida alba L.
Sida cordata (Burm.f.) Borss. Walk.
Sida cordifolia L.
Sida rhombifolia L sbsp. rhombifolia
Sida rhombifolia L. subsp. retusa (L.) Borss.
Urena lobata L. subsp. lobata
Urena lobata subsp. sinuta (L.) Borss.
8 Banafshah Viola odorata Linn. Whole plant Viola biflora Linn.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban
Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.
9 Bhoomi amla Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. Whole plant Phyllanthus rheedii Wight.
Bhuiamla Phyllanthus fraternus Webster & Thonn. Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn.
Indigofera linifolia Ritz.
10 Bhringraj Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. Whole plant Justicia gendarusa Burm f.
11 Brahami Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Whole plant Malva pusilla - Sm.
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban syn. Malva rotundifolia Linn.
Merremia emarginata (Burm. f.) Hallier f.
syn. M. gangetica (L.) Cufo
12 Brahmdandi Argemone maxicana Linn. Whole plant Amberboa divaricata Kuntze
Echinops echinata Roxb. syn. Volutarella divericata Benth.
Lamprachaenium microcephalum Benth. & Hook f.
Tricholepis glaberrima DC.
13 Bridle Berry Garcinia quaesita Pierre Fruits Garcinia cowa Roxb.
Garcinia morella (Gaertn.)Dest.
14 Common valerian Valeriana officinalis L. Roots Valeriana jatamansi Jones
syn. V. wallichii DC
15 Chinese ginseng Panax schinseng Nees Root Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don.) Soo
16 Chirayita Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) Karsten Whole plant Andrograpis paniculata Burm. f. Wall. ex N.
Swertia cordata Wall.
17 Chitrak Plumbago zeylanica L. Root & Stem Wood of Acacia catechu Willd.
Achyranthes aspera Linn.
18 Gajpipali Scindapsus officinalis Schott. Fruiting spikes Piper longum Linn.
19 Gokhru Tribulus terrestris Linn. Fruits Xanthium strumarium Linn.
Pedalium murex Linn.
20 Gurhal Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Flowers Rhododendron arboreum Smith.
21 Horse Chest nut Aesculus indica Colebr. Seeds Entada pursaetha DC.
syn. E. scandens auct non (L.) Benth.
22 Jaiphala Myristica fragrans Houtt. Seeds Croton tiglium Linn.
23 Jalap Exogonium purga Benth. Root Tiliacora acuminata Miers
Syn. Ipomoea purga Hayne syn. T. racemosa Colebr.;
Operculina turpithum (L.) Silva Manso T. acuminata Hook.f & Thoms.
Syn. Convolvulus turpethum Linn.;
Ipomoea turpethum (L.) R.Br.
24 Kabab chini Piper cubeba Linn.f. Fruits Schinus molle Linn.
25 Kachura Curcuma zedoaria Rocs. Rhizome Hedychium spicatum Buch.- Ham.
26 Kala Haldi Curcuma caesia Roxb. Rhizome Dioscorea sps.
27 Kalmegh Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex Nees Whole plant Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees
28 Kamal keshar Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Stamens Carthamus tinctorius Linn.
29 Kantkari Solanum surattense Burm.f Whole plant Solanum indicum Lam.auct. non Linn.
Syn. S. xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl.

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Sl no. Sample received Expected vide literature Part Sample identified as

30 Kharenti/Khareti Sida acuta Burm.f. Whole plant Sida alba Linn.
Side cordifolia Linn.
Sida spinosa Linn.
31 Kapurkachri Hedychium spicatum Buch.-Ham. Rhizome Hedychium coronarium Koenig.
32 Kiwach/Kaunch Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. Seeds Mucuna utilis Wall. ex Wight
Syn. Mucuna prurita Hook. Mucuna cochenchinensis Cheval
33 Mashaparni Atylosia goensis Dalz. Rhyncosia capitata DC.
Syn. A. barbata Baker syn. R. aurea DC.
Teramnus labialis Spreng.
Vigna dalzelliana (O. Kze.) Verdc.
Syn. Phaseolus dalzelli T. Cooke
Vigna mungo (Linn.) Hepper
Syn. Phaseolus mungo linn.
Vigna radiata (Linn.) Willczek var.
sublobata (Roxb.) Verdc.
Syn. Phaseolus sublobata Roxb.
Vigna umbellate (Thunb.) Ohwi & Ohasi
Syn. Phaseolus calcaratus Roxb.
Rhyncosia nummularia (Linn.) DC.
34 Neem Azadirachta indica A Juss. Leaves Melia azedarach Linn.
35 Netra bala Plectranthus vettiveroides (Jacob) Roots Cocculus suberosus DC.
Singh & Sharma syn. C. indicus Royle
Syn. Coleus vettiveroides K.C. Jacob Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.
Pavonia odorata Willd.
36 Nishoth (Kala) Lettsomia atropurpurea (Wall.) C.B.Clarke Root Dioscorea japonica Thunb.
Syn. Argyrea atropurpurea (Wall.) Raiz.
37 Nishoth (safed) Operculina turpethum (L.) Silva Manso Root Marsdenia tenacissima Wight & Arn.
Syn. Convolvulus turperthum Linn.
Ipomoea turpithum (L.) R.Br.
38 Patharphori, Didymocarpus pedicelata R.Br. Whole plant Mammea longifolia Planch. & Triana
Kumkum syn. Ochrocarpus longifolius Benth.
& Hook.f.
39 Patalgarud Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diesl Root Aristolochia indica Linn.
Corallocarpus epigaeus (Rottler & Willd.)
Bryonia epigaea Rottler
Ophiorrhiza mungos Linn.
Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz.
40 Pushkarmul Inula recemosa Hook.f. Root Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch.
Syn. Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke Rhizome
41 Rudravanti Cressa cretica Linn. Fruit Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle
syn. F. elephantum Correa
42 Sadab/Sudab Euphorbia lathyrus Linn. Whole plant Euphorbia dracunculoides Lamk.
Ruta graveolens Linn.
43 Saptaparna Alstonia scholaris R. Br. Leaves Symplocos racemosa Roxb.
44 Saptaparna Alstonia scholaris R. Br Bark Aegle marmalos Correa ex Roxb.
45 Sarpgandha Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz. Root Premna latifolia Roxb.
46 Shankhapushpi Convolvulus microphyllus Sieber. ex Spreng. Whole plant Indigofera cordifolia Heyne
Canscora decussata Schult. & Schult. F. Amberboa divericata Kuntze
C. diffusa R.Br. Polygonum plebeium R.Br.
Clitoria ternatea Linn.
Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.
Lavendula bipinnata Kuntze
L. dentata Linn.

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Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade
Sl no. Sample received Expected vide literature
L. stoechas Linn.
Goniogyna hirta (Wild.) Ali
Tephrosia purpurea Pers.
Xanthium strumarium L
47 Taramira Eruca sativa Mill
48 Vidara beej Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.
syn. F. cataphracta Roxb. ex Willd.
Opentia stricta (Haw.)Haw var. dillenii (Ker Gawl) Benson
syn. O. dillenii Ker Gawl.
49 Zufa / Zoopha Hyssopus officinalis Linn.
Hyssopus parviflora Benth.
Nepeta ciliaris Benth.
Observations and discussions
Out of 3486 crude drug samples, received for identification, 401
samples have been identified either as their allied species or mixture
of the two or even altogether different plants belong to different
families as given in table II and III. However, the samples of Piper
longum Linn., Cichorium intybus Linn. , Foeniculum vulgare Mill.,
received as roots, have been found as shoots/stem of these plants.
The samples received as fruits of Punica granatum Linn. and Tamarix
gallica auct non Linn. have been identified as rinds of the fruits of
Punica granatum Linn. and insect galls of Tamarix gallica auct non
Linn. respectively. Out of the nine samples received in the name of
Hypericum perforatum Linn., only one sample was found genuine
Hypericum perforatum Linn., where as seven other samples have
been identified as its allied species like Hypericum dyeri Rehder,
Hypericum oblongifolium Choisy, H. elodeoides Choisy, H.
oblongifolium Choisy , and one sample was of Reinwardtia indica
Dun., altogether a different plant belonging to the family Linaceae. It
is interesting to note that none of these allied species has reported
to contain hypericine, the active constituent present in Hypericum
perforatum Linn., (Singh, 1999). Some of the samples received in the
name of Asparagus recemosus Willd. have been identified as roots of
its allied species like Asparagus sarmentosus Linn., Asparagus
adscendens Roxb., Asparagus gonocladus Baker, and Asparagus
curillus Wall. One sample received as roots of Aconitum napellus
Linn. has been identified as Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf, which is
highly toxic and the skin become numbness while simply contact
with it.
www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aconitum+chasmanthum
A sample received as leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss., has
been identified as leaves of Melia azedarach Linn. Though, the
leaves of Melia azedarach Linn have also been used similarly as
natural insecticide like the leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss to
keep with stored food. But due to presence of a poisonous
compound Tetranortriterpene neurotoxins in the leaves of Melia
azedarach Linn., on consumption, shown deleterious effect on
human health like stomach irritation, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea,
paralysis, irregular breathing, and respiratory distress.
www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Meliaaz.htm
50 Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade
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Part Sample identified as
Seeds Lepidium sativum Linn.
Seeds Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Correa
Whole plant Nepeta bracteata Benth.
The seed samples received in the name of Aesculus indica Colebr,
have been identified as seeds of Entada pursaetha DC., which have
been reported poisonous and produce toxic symptoms like
vomiting and drowsiness if consumed raw ( Chopra et al, 1958).
The samples received as bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Breyn. have been identified the bark of its allied species like
Cinnamomum impressinervium Miessn., Cinnamomum cassia
Blume, Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm. , where as the bark
sample received as Salix alba Linn. was identified the bark of
Valeriana pyrolaefolia Decne, which is altogether a different plant
from a different family. The samples received as whole plants of
Carthamus tinctorius Linn., have been identified as Verbesina
enceloides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook., which is reported a potential
hazard for grazing livestock and has been responsible for livestock
deaths in the U.S.A.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1573558
The samples received as Anjubar, have been identified as
Bistorta vivipara (L.) Delarbre, instead of the genuine drug
Polygonum bistorta Linn. The plant Bistorta vivipara (L.) Delarbre is
reported to aggravate the conditions of rheumatism, arthritis, gout,
kidney stones or hyperacidity if consumed by the people who are
suffering from these diseases
www.pfaf.org/index.php)
The samples received as Brahami, supposed to be the samples of
either Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. or Centella asiatiaca (L.) Urban
vide literature but the samples have been identified as Malva pusilla
- Sm. (Mehta et al. 1991) and Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier
f.. The drug Brahami, either Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst or Centella
asiatiaca (L.) Urban, said to be used to improve intellect, however,
the plants Malva pusilla - Sm. and Merremia emarginata (Burm.f.)
Hallier f.. have not been reported to possesses this property, instead
the plants Malva pusilla - Sm , when grown on nitrogen rich soils,
tend to concentrate high levels of nitrates in their leaves, may cause
deleterious effect on human health
www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Malva+pusilla
 Medherb Green Pages - India and Indonesia 2009
The samples received as flowers of Gurhal, supposed to be the
flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. but were identified as the
flowers of Rhododendron arboreum Smith., which have been
reported to cause intoxication if eaten in excess (Singh, 1998). The
samples received as Shankhapushpi, the drug have been used in
Indian system of medicine for improving memory, have been
identified as Indigofera cordifolia Heyne, Amberboa divericata
Kuntze and Polygonum plebeium R. Br. , which are the common
weeds and have not been reported to improve intellect, instead the
seeds of Indigofera cordifolia Heyne are harmful to the human being
if they consumed alone (Singh, 2000).
A sample received as kabab chini, supposed to be the fruits of
Piper cubeba Linn.f. but was identified as fruits of Schinus molle Linn.,
which is reported to cause vomiting and diarrhoea if eaten in excess
(Ambasta, 1986). A sample received in the name of Kalmegh, a well
known drug obtained from Andrographis paniculata Wall. ex Nees
used in dysentery, cholera, diabetes, influenza, bronchitis, itches and
piles and also as a substitute of chirayita , Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex
Flem.) Karst., but the sample in question was identified as
Peristrophe bicalyculata Nees, which is reported to be used as
fodder and green manure only but no therapeutic properties have
been given (WOI, 1966). It is interesting to note that a sample
received as Jaiphal, the source of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans
Houtt.), commonly used for flavouring food products and liqueurs
and also cosmetics, have been identified as fruits of Croton tiglium
Linn., which are drastic purgative and vesicant (Ambasta, 1986).
Conclusion
In the present study it has been observed that out of 3076 crude
drug samples, received for identification, 345 samples found
spurious. They have been either the allied species of the genuine
one or the mixtures of the two or all together different plants
belonging to different families. The medicines prepared from these
spurious drugs may not be therapeutically as effective as prepared
by genuine one because it may not have the same active ingredient.
Moreover, they may contain toxic compounds which may cause
deleterious effect on human health. Therefore, to ensure quality,
safety and efficacy of the herbal medicine the staring plant raw
materials should be authentic and of the best quality. Herbarium
specimens of medicinal plants and parts thereof should be collected
and maintained in a herbarium as authentic reference collections
that may be used as a reference material for morphological,
anatomical, Chemical, and DNA finger printing studies.
Acknowledgement
Author is grateful to the Director, NISCAIR for providing facilities and
encouragement.
Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade
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Dr. H.B. SINGH,
Raw Materials Herbarium & Museum (RHMD)
National Inst. of Science Communication & Information Resources
Dr. K.S. Krishan Marg, New Delhi-110012
hbs@niscair.res.in
Indian Medicinal Plants in Trade 51