Methodology of Studying & Overcoming
Controversies Regarding Medicinal Plants
Dr Sneha Anil Surve – PG Scholar Dravyaguna
AVPM'S Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Sion, Mumbai-400 022
Need for the Study
●
Around 70% of healthcare
needs of India is still being
catered by traditional
systems of medicines
including Ayurved, which
highly depends on natural
●
resources.
Plant-based medicines form
a very important component
of total medicines available
for treating various diseases.
●
The increased demand and
reduced availability has
reportedly led to even
adulterations of many plant
based formulations.
●
Ambiguity in Ayurveda is
reflected in the interpretation
of names and description of
drugs found in the books like
Charaka Samhita and
Sushruta Samhita, etc.
Methods
●
Available Ayurvedic literature
was studied for better
understanding of concept of
Sandigdha dravyas.

●
Information regarding
controversial drugs from
various journals, Ayurvedic
texts & Internet media was
also used for availability &
necessity for comprehensive
understanding of the subject.
Analysis

Challenges faced :
1. Due to non-availability or high
cost in the market & over
exploitation of a drug source,
there are chances of
substitution or adulteration of
drugs.
2. Poor understanding of the
nomenclature intricacies,
misinterpretations, poor
deciphering of the classical
texts, poor field identification
skills, wide chronological gaps
between the different classical
texts, all lead to wrong identity.
3. The polynomial
nomenclature.
4. Problems and prospects of
cultivation of drug sources:
1. Not possible to cultivate all
the drug sources.
2. Sometimes, the cultivated
plants are different in their
morphology and efficacy as a
drug from its wild relative.
Controversial Drugs Results
All these problems can be solved by
pharmacognostic studies of medicinal plants.
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived
from natural sources, mainly from plants. It
basically deals with standardization, authentication
and study of natural drugs.
The pharmacognostic standardization
parameters which are generally done are described
Terminalia Arjuna ARJUN Lagerstroemia below:
1.Organoleptic characters such as shape, size,
speciosa colour, odour, taste and fracture of stem bark, leaf
structure like margin, apex, base surface, venation
and inflorescence, etc are evaluated.
2.Macroscopic study is the morphological
description of the plant parts which are seen by
naked eye or magnifying lens.
3. Microscopic study is the anatomical study
which is done by taking appropriate section of the
plant parts under study.
Sterculina ureuns Terminalia tomentosa 4.Powder study is similar to microscopic study
except here dried powder is taken instead of
section of the plant.
5.Physicochemical analysis: The parameters
which are studied are moisture content, loss on
Saraca asoca Polyalthia longifolia drying, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alcohol and
water soluble extractive values, petroleum ether
soluble extractive value, ethyl acetate soluble
ASHOKA extractive value acetone soluble extractive value
etc.
6.Phytochemical analysis:The crude powder
and/or crude drugs extracted in different solvents
are tested for various phytoconstituents present in
them by standard procedures. They are generally
tested for the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids,
tannins, phenols, cardiac glycosides, triterpenes,
steroids and saponins.
7.Fluorescence analysis
Discussion
‘ ”Sandigdha dravyas” is a term used for
“
medicinal plants having controversial
sources, appear in the ancient Indian
literature. Quantum of information gained
from Ayurvedic and other Sanskrit literature
Pharmacogonsy revealed where one common vernacular
name is used for two or more entirely
different plant species in traditional system
of medicines.The variation in the language
sometimes is responsible for confusion in the
nomenclature of different plants having
similar name. Moreover the descriptions of a
plant in the ancient literature are found in
versus having ample use of synonym. These
synonyms have caused controversy in the
identification of plants and hence the correct
source sometime is misleading with a fictious
plant.
Pharmacognostic studies ensures plant
identity, lays down standardization
parameters which will help and prevents
adulterations. Such studies will help in
authentication of the plants and ensures
reproducible quality of herbal products which
will lead to safety and efficacy of natural
products.
References
1. Importance of Pharmacognostic Study of
Medicinal Plants: An Overview.
Sumitra Chandra, Journal Of Pharmacognsy &
Pytochemistry ; 2014: 2(5) – 69-73.
2. Some Controversial Drugs in Indian Medicine:
Dr Bapalal Vaidya,Chaukhambha Orientalia,
Varanasi.
3. Adulteration & Substitution in Indian Medicinal
Plants : An overview. Journal of Medicinal Plants
Studies 2013 ; Vol 1, Issue 4, 127-132, ISSN: