Herb Authentication

Herb authentication plays a crucial role in traditional medicine, as various herbs possess different properties that need to be identified correctly. The authentication of herbs is based on their physical, chemical, and organoleptic qualities. Through accurate authentication, pharmacological properties and active components, anti-microbial and toxic content of herbs can be determined. This helps a practitioner evaluate a herb’s effectiveness and the type of treatment to be provided. Depending on the herb’s origin and storage conditions, its authentication differs. Identification of the herb’s botanical source can be done through morphological characteristics such as size and shape of the root or plant, leaves, flowers, color, and odor. Microscopic evaluations involve studying the shape of the epidermal cells, number of wild vessels and the types of stomata present in the herb. Various physical properties of a herb, such as solubility, loss on drying, and pH, are also taken into consideration for its identification. Organoleptic evaluation refers to the assessment or examination of a herb by its smell, flavor, and texture. Ayurvedic physicians are known to authenticate each herb based on the taste, color, smell, and texture. This is important, as even a slight shift in these characteristics can lead to incorrect treatment outcomes. The application of advanced scientific methods like chromatography and HPTLC are also used for authentication. These techniques help detect and record various active markers of an herb through a digitalized medium. The authentication of herbs is essential to ensure that traditional medicines are safe and effective. It also provides the medical practitioner with reliable data about herbs, which can be beneficial to both the health of patients and the medicinal plant biodiversity.