Abstract

HERBAL MEDICINE ADULTERATION IN AYURVEDA: ANALYTICAL APPROACHES, SAFETY CONCERNS, AND INTERACTION MANAGEMENT

*Dr. Vishakha Vijay Nakshane

Abstract

Global use of Ayurvedic herbal medicines is rapidly increasing, but adulteration and unsafe combinations are raising serious questions about their safety and therapeutic reliability. Herbal adulteration—whether intentional, such as the use of cheaper substitutes, or unintentional, such as contamination by heavy metals, pesticides, or microbial load—creates significant risks to patient health. Adulterated raw materials disrupt the phytochemical profiles of formulations, which can reduce efficacy or increase adverse effects. Additionally, herb–drug interactions between Ayurvedic herbs and modern allopathic drugs are an emerging challenge in clinical practice. These interactions, whether occurring at the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic level, can alter drug absorption, metabolism, or therapeutic effects. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive academic insight into key sources of herbal adulteration, analytical detection methods, and regulatory gaps. The paper also explains the mechanisms of herb–drug interactions so that both clinicians and researchers can effectively manage these risks. High-quality analytical testing, standardization, and integrative pharmacovigilance are becoming essential to ensure the safety, authenticity, and global acceptability of Ayurveda.

Keywords: Herbal adulteration, Ayurveda, Quality assurance, Drug interactions, Phytochemical analysis, Pharmacovigilance.