User:Munna Saikia

Adulteration of Crude Drug Definition:

Adulteration of crude drugs refers to the practice of adding impurities or inferior substances to a natural drug in order to increase its weight or bulk, or to make it appear to be of higher quality. This is often done with the intention of deceiving the consumer or increasing profits for the seller.Adulteration of crude drugs can have serious consequences for public health, as the addition of harmful substances can lead to adverse effects or even toxicity. It can also compromise the efficacy of the drug, as the added substances may dilute or alter its active ingredients.To prevent adulteration of crude drugs, it is important to have strict quality control measures in place throughout the supply chain, from cultivation and harvesting to processing and distribution. These measures may include regular testing for purity and authenticity, as well as regulation and enforcement by government agencies. Additionally, consumers can protect themselves by purchasing drugs from reputable sources and being vigilant about signs of adulteration, such as unusual odors, colors, or textures.

Adulteration is broadly defined as admixture or substitution of gentine articles with spurious, defective, inferior or harmful substances Adulteration usually occurs when the drug is scarce or when the price is high. Sometimes, adulteration can occur eventhough it is not intended. For example, adulteration may occur due to unsatisfactory methods of collection, transportation and identification. This type of unintended adulteration is called as undeliberate adulteration. Following are the various methods used for drug adulteration.

1. Substitution with manufactured materials: This is done with artificially manufactured materials which resemble various drugs in form and appearance. For example, nutmeg has been adulterated with bass - wood, cut to the required size and shape. Also, paraffin wax has been coloured yellow to substitute bees wax.

2. Substitution with inferior material: Drugs are sometimes adulterated and substituted with substandard commercial materials. For example senna is adulterated with dog senna. Tragacanth is adulterated with hog tragacanth.

3. Substitution with exhausted materials: Exhausted materials are the vegetable residues which remain after the original material has been used for drug preparation. The exhausted material resembles the original drug in appearance but the content of active principle is far less. Examples are the use of exhausted clove and ginger for adulteration.

4. Substitution with cheap natural substances: Sometimes, drugs are adulterated with cheaper natural substance which have no relation to the genuine article. e.g. Japan wax for bees wax and sterculia gum for tragcanth.

5. Adulteration with non-plant materials: Plant materials are sometimes adulterated with worthless non-plant materials. Examples are pieces of limestone in asafoetida and lead shot in pieces of opium.

6. Excessive adventitious matter: Adulteration involves also the presence of an excessive quantity of an advantitious material that naturally occurs with the plant. e.g. excessive amount of stem in the leaves of lobelia or stramonium.

Summary adulteration of crude drugs is a serious issue that can have negative consequences for public health and the efficacy of drugs. It is important for there to be strict quality control measures in place to prevent adulteration and ensure the purity and authenticity of natural drugs. This can be achieved through regular testing, regulation and enforcement by government agencies, and consumer awareness and education. By taking these steps, we can help ensure that natural drugs are safe and effective for use in medical treatments and maintain public confidence in their benefits.

Refference: Indian pharmacopeia