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S. G. Uttarwar*et al. /International Journal Of Pharmacy&Technology• Hemolytic activity: The hemolytic activity of plant materials, or a preparation containing saponins, isdetermined by comparison with that of a reference material, saponins R.• Foaming index: The foaming ability of an aqueous decoction of plant materials and their extracts is measuredin terms of a foaming index.• Pesticide residues: it measures the pesticide residues in the plant.• Swelling index: it measures the swelling property of the medicinal plant.• Arsenic and heavy metals: Contamination of medicinal plant materials with arsenic and heavy metals can beattributed to many causes including environmental pollution and traces of pesticides.• Microorganisms: Current practices of harvesting, handling and production may cause additional contaminationand microbial growth.• Alfatoxins: Minute presence in crude drug can be toxic and hence their presence is being tested.• Chemical Fingerprinting: To allow the detection of all the components in extracts.• DNA Fingerprinting: Technique is useful for identification of phytochemically indistinguishable genuine drugfrom substituted or adulterate drug.• Biological profiling: It identifies the biologically active plants allowing highly sophisticated standardization andquality control.• Radioactive contamination: A certain amount of exposure to ionizing radiation cannot be avoided since thereare many sources, including radio nuclides occurring naturally in the ground and the atmosphere.• Toxicological Studies: To help to determine pesticide residue, potentially toxic elements, safety studies inanimals like LD50 and Microbial count approach to ascertain their presence or absence.The processes mentioned above involves wide array of scientific investigations, which include physical, chemicaland biological evaluation employing various analytical methods and tools. The specific aims of such investigation inassuring herbal quality are as varied as the processes employed 9 .IJPT | July-2013 | Vol. 5 | Issue No.2 | 2509-2519 Page 2512
Physical evaluation 2S. G. Uttarwar*et al. /International Journal Of Pharmacy&TechnologyEach monograph contains detailed botanical, macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of the physical characteristics ofeach plant that can be used to ensure both identity and purity. Each description is accompanied by detailed illustrationsand photographic images which provide visual documentation of accurately identified material. Various physicalparameters include viscosity, volatile matter content, density, refractive index, hemolytic activity, foaming index,melting point, solubility. The Q. C. Parameter for evaluation of crude drug Moisture content Specific gravity Opticalrotation Bitterness value Swelling index, Ash value.Microscopic evaluation 3Microscopic analyses of plants are invaluable for assuring the identity of the material and as an initial screening test forimpurities. Most manufacturers of herbal products lack the quality control personnel to accurately assess plant identityand purity microscopically. The Ayurvedic Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) fully characterizes herbal products against theliterature and AHP verified trade mark authenticated materials to assure identity of test materials. Ideally, submittedmaterials should be in their whole or semi-whole (cut) form for microscopic assessment. However, much informationcan be discerned from microscopic evaluation of powders as well. Full and accurate characterization of plant materialrequires a combination of physical and chemical tests.Chemical evaluation 9This covers the screening, isolation, identification and purification of chemical components. Chemical analysis of thedrug is done to assess the potency of vegetable and animal source material in terms of their active principles. Thechemical screening include colour reaction test, which help to determine the identity of the drug substance and possibleadulteration.Biological evaluationPharmacological activity of certain drugs has been applied to evaluate and standardize them. The assays on livinganimal and on their intact or isolated organs can indicate the strength of the drug or their preparations. All livingorganism are used, these assays are known as Biological assays or Bioassay 14 .IJPT | July-2013 | Vol. 5 | Issue No.2 | 2509-2519 Page 2513
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