MEDICINAL PLANTS STANDARDIZATION

In recent years there is a spurt in the interest regarding survival of traditional herbal drug medication. At the same time in the global perspective, the authenticity, purity and standardization are important aspects with respect to herbal drugs. As the name implies authenticity relates to providing the materials is true and corresponds to right identity. This book describes the chemotaxonomic markers including organoleptography (color, taste, odor, appearance, texture, clarity), morpho-palynology {macro and microscopic features based on light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), leaf epidermal anatomy (LM), chromatographic analysis (TLC)} and fluorescence quenching (UV and IR analysis) used as an aid in the identification of genuine source of herbal drugs. Because of gravity of problems like adulteration, nomenclatural confusion, morphological similarities and lack of knowledge about genuine source, these chemotaxonomic techniques are of utmost importance for wider acceptance according to World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr. Muhammad Zafar is working as Herbarium Botanist in Department of Plant Sciences at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan. Dr. Mir Ajab Khan has obtained Ph.D. in 1984 in Biosystematics from Leicester University England. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad has obtained Ph.D. in 2008 in Plant Taxonomy form Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Pakistan.