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| BOOK REVIEW |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 44
| Issue : 1 | Page : 146-147 |
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Book Review
CT Chopde
Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Dist- Nagpur - 441 002, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Web Publication | 14-Jan-2012 |
Correspondence Address:
C T Chopde
Department of Pharmacology, Smt. Kishoritai Bhoyar College of Pharmacy, Kamptee, Dist- Nagpur - 441 002, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Chopde C T. Book Review. Indian J Pharmacol 2012;44:146-7 |
Quality Standards of Indian Medicinal Plants
Publishers: Medicinal Plants Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029,
Vol. 9, 2011, pp. 415, Price Rs. 1792
Reviews on Indian Medicinal Plants
Neeraj Tandon (Editor)
Publishers: Medicinal Plants Unit, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029,
Vol.10 (Ec-Ex) 2011, pp. 1188, Price Rs. 2190
One of the major problems encountered in herbal medicine is the difficulty in getting the desired plant material with uniform quality as per requirement. This is because plants growing in different climatic soil and seasonal conditions do not have identical chemical constituents or therapeutic effects. Therefore, it becomes essential to ensure adequate quality parameters of echo herbal materials, raw as well as finished products. Moreover, the R and D program of herbal sector in India is about to move toward the new directions dictated by the dynamic needs of international requirements with regard to the safety, efficacy, quality and scientific understanding. Hence, it is important that a system of standardization should be in place to minimize the chance of variation between different batches of a herbal medicine. The present publication is the latest volume (Vol. 9) in the series of "Quality Standards of Indian Medicinal Plants" by ICMR. The earlier volumes covered 274 plants and the present volume contains the monographs on another 35 plants. This volume includes six appendices (I-evaluation of crude drugs, II- phytochemical evaluation of raw materials, III- methods of isolation of markers, IV-drying and storage of raw material, V- pesticide residue and microbial contamination and VI-plants allocated to various institutes) and three indices (I-botanical names, II-chemical constituents and III-other names). Each monograph includes the information on part(s) used, botanical name, synonyms, habit, distribution, other vernacular names, macro/microscopic description, chemical constituents, identity tests (TLC, HPLC, GLC etc), analysis of marker compounds, quantitative standards, adulterants/substitutes, important pharmacological, clinical and other biological activities, major therapeutic claims, safety aspects and dose with appropriate references. Description of each plant is accompanied with a color photograph. The information provided is concise, comprehensible and carefully collected. The present book is a noteworthy achievement of the Indian Council of Medical Research and will definitely help in standardization of crude herbal drugs of medicinal value. This book is extremely useful for the herbal drug industry, researchers, health professionals, regulatory authorities, policy makers and academicians interested in the subject of medicinal plants.
Although, herbal drugs have gained tremendous importance in recent years, the scientific information about several medicinal plants is usually found to be widely scattered. The program initiated by the Indian Council of Medical Research in preparing monographs of important medicinal plants, therefore, assumes a great significance. The latest volume (Vol. 10) of the series on 'Reviews on Indian Medicinal Plants' is a step forward in this direction. With genera of medicinal plants arranged alphabetically, the earlier nine volumes contained the information on more than 2150 plant species (alphabets A-D). The tenth volume incorporates extensive multidisciplinary information on 422 species of 82 genera supported by 4360 references under the alphabet Ec-Ex as per the botanical names. The comprehensive information enrooted in 1188 pages also contains three appendices (appendix I-list of plants reported for only ethno-botanical/traditional uses, II- list of plants not included in the volume due to change in botanical nomenclature, and III-list of some important books, treatises and encyclopedias referred), five indices (I-index of family names including generic names, II- index of botanical names, III- index of bioactive phytoconstituents, IV- index of pharmacological and biological activity and V- index of regional and other names), and the list of plant genera in earlier volumes (1-9). The monograph on each plant encompasses broad spectrum of information under major heads including, general information, pharmacognostic studies, chemical studies, pharmacological and biological studies, clinical studies and toxicological aspects with appropriate references, and additional references (pertaining to work conducted in other countries). Additionally colored photographs of some important plants have also been given. The information covered in each part has been carefully chosen and it is up-to-date, concise, comprehensible and easy to use and understand. The ICMR with its deep interest in health care and profound experience in medicinal plant research has dealt with this issue in a meticulous manner while compiling the enormous scientific information of Indian medicinal plants. The book fulfills the needs of the academicians, scientists, students and other professionals of research institutions and industries with interest in new drug discovery from medicinal plants. I have enjoyed the book so much that there is little by way of criticism that I have to offer. However, it would be useful if ICMR in the forthcoming publications includes appendix or indices for toxicity requirements and guidelines for toxicological testing of herbal remedies. All in all, this is a nicely illustrated and updated book which will make plant drug studies/research much more interesting, less daunting and better understood. The book will be an useful addition to libraries of educational and research institutions, herbal industries and other organizations including regulatory authorities involved in research concerning herbal drug technology.
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