adulterations of herbal drugs

2.  Original ginger (Zingiber officinale) is adulterated with Cochin and with African and Japanese ginger.

3.  Tragacanth (a natural gum) is adulterated with Smyrna and hog tragacanth.

4.  Fruits of Capsicum minimum are regularly substituted with Capsicum annuum fruits and Japanese chillies.

5.  Strychnos nuxvomica seeds are adulterated with S. nux-blanda or S. potatorum seeds.

3.2.1.2  Adulteration by Artificially Manufactured Substitutes

To maintain the expected morphology and texture of various herbal medicines, some substances are manufactured artifi-

cially and are incorporated as substitution of the original ones. Examples include compressed chicory adulteration in coffee, 

inverted sugar (artificial) in honey, and yellow paraffin wax for beeswax.

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3.2.1.3  Substitution by Exhausted Drugs

This may be defined as the admixture of a certain species (such as clove, coriander, or fennel) with the same species, but one 

that has been exhausted. This may be done by extracting the active constituents out (volatile oils, in this case). Manipulation 

of the color and taste is done through incorporation of additives.

3.2.1.4  Substitution by Superficially Similar but Cheaper Natural Substances

This type of adulteration is observed in the case of costly drugs. For example, paraffin wax is tinged yellow and adulterated 

with yellow bees wax, while artificial inverted sugar is mixed with honey. In this case, the adulterated herbal drug is in no 

way related to the authentic drug. This mixture may or may not possess the required medicinal or chemical constituents to 

the extent desired. Some examples may elucidate this fact.

Ailanthus leaves are substituted for Belladonna, Senna, and Mint. Belladonna leaves are also substituted with Phytolacca 

and Scopolia leaves. Xanthium leaves are substituted for Stramonium and leaves of Dandelion are substituted for Henbane. 

Indian Dill is adulterated with European Dill or Caraway.

3.2.1.5  Adulteration by Addition of Worthless Heavy Materials

Several cases have been observed in which a significant quantity of stone, lead shot, or limestone have been mixed with 

Licorice root, Asafoetida, or pieces of opium.

3.2.1.6  Addition of Synthetic Principles

Some synthetic products are also added to natural products, such as citral oil in Lemon and Benzyl benzoate in Balsam of 

Peru, among others.

3.2.1.7  Adulteration With Inferior Drugs

Generally, this is done by mixing adventitious materials or naturally occurring substances with an herbal medicinal prod-

uct in excessive quantities or with components of the plant other than the part of interest. One example is liverworts 

and epiphytes growing in the bark of plants that are adulterated with Cascara, Cinchona, or buchu stems (

Evans, 2009

).  

TABLE 3.4  Commonly Used Adulterants in Several Indian Medicinal Plants