INTERNATIONAL AYURVEDIC MEDICAL JOURNAL

International Ayurvedic Medical Journal, (ISSN: 2320 5091) (July, 2017) 5(7)

CONTROVERSY, ADULTERATION AND SUBSTITUTION - BURNING PROBLEMS IN PRACTICES

Puneshwar Keshari1, Pradeep2

1PG Scholar, 2Associate Professor, Department of Dravya Guna, SDM College of Ayurveda and Teaching Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka, India

Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Ayurveda is an Indian traditional system of medicine. In present era, world is looking towards herbal medicine because of acceptability and safety. Medicinal constitute an effective source of Ayurvedic and other traditional system of medicines as well as modern medicine. In India, about 80% of the rural population depends on herbal medicines in primary health care level. A large per- centage of plants used in herbal industries are subject of controversy. Non-availability of plants, poor understanding and parallel evolved knowledge systems are some of the reasons attributed to it. The existing practices of polynomial nomenclature system of , different perceptions in various communities, vernacular equivalents, all are cumulative factors for controversy, adulteration and substitution. “Sandigdha Dravaya” is a term used for that type of medicinal plants which are men- tioned in Ayurvedic classics but their exact botanical source is not known. Adulterants and substi- tutes are the common practices in herbal raw material trade. Adulteration is a debasement of an ar- ticle. The motives for intentional adulteration are normally commercial that which involves deteri- oration, admixture, sophistication, inferiority, spoilage and other unknown reasons. Substitution is a replacement of equivalent drugs in place of original drugs. The principles to select substitute drugs are based on similar Rasa, Guna, Virya, Vipaka and mainly the Karma. At present the adulteration and Substitution of the herbal drugs is the burning problem in herbal industry and in Ayurvedic prac- tices. So it is necessary to develop reliable methodologies for correct identification, standardization and quality assurance of Ayurvedic drugs.

Keywords: Controversy, Sandigdha Dravya, Adulteration, Substitute.

INTRODUCTION Puneshwar Keshari & Pradeep: Controversy, Adulteration And Substitution - Burning Problems In Ayurveda Practices

Ayurveda is an Indian traditional system of crude genuine drugs, practices of substitution medicine. It is a science of life and believed to and adulteration are increasing day by day. be prevalent for last 5000 years in Indian Sub- Similarly a large percentage of plants used in continent. It is one of the most noted systems herbal industries are subject of controversy. of medicine in the world.1 In Ayurvedic sys- Non-availability of plants, poor understanding tem of medicine, treatment is based on Chikit- and parallel evolved knowledge systems i.e. sa Chatuspad (Tetra-pod of treatment) and for knowledge of naming of plants by identifying success of treatment, all these pods most con- species with partly similar or fully similar tain special qualities.2 Aushadh (Drugs) is one properties, inherent qualities of accent and di- of the major pod, and for success of treatment alects, non medical literature describing flora potent drugs are the primary requirement. Me- etc. are some of the reasons attributed to it.6 dicinal plants are the major source of drugs in At present the adulteration and Substitution of Ayurveda. the herbal drugs is the burning problem in India is one of the world’s top 12 mega diver- herbal industry and in Ayurvedic practices. sity countries. It has more than one fourth Due to adulteration, faith in herbal drugs has (8000) of the world’s known medicinal declined and led to one of the greatest draw- species (30,000), which provides an important backs in promotion of Ayurveda and Herbal source of medicinal raw materials for tradi- products. Adulterants are also creating health tional medicine systems as well as for phar- hazards or adverse events. Similarly contro- maceutical industries.3 Medicinal plants are versy is creating problem for uniformity in globally valuable sources of new drugs. There standardization and reliability of Ayurvedic are over 1300 medicinal plants used in Eu- products and due to use of substitutions, it is rope, of which 90 % are harvested from wild difficult to get the appropriate effects as the resources; similar figure in India also. Fur- genuine drugs could give. thermore, up to 80 % of people in developing The purpose of this study is to define and de- countries are totally dependent on herbal drugs termine the causes of controversy, Adultera- for their primary healthcare, and over 25 % of tions and Substitution on classical and modern prescribed medicines in developed countries perspectives with appropriate examples and are derived from wild plant species.4 Due to an their effect on Ayurveda practices. increasing demand for medicinal plants and a loss and fragmentation of natural habitats, Material and Methods- close to 300 species of Indian medicinal plants Available Ayurvedic and Contemporary litera- have been so far assessed as under threat in the tures were studied for better understanding of wild. Around 1,000 species are estimated to be concept of Controversy, Adulteration and facing various degrees of threat across differ- Substitute of medicinal plants in Ayurvedic ent biogeographic regions in the country.5 practices and herbal trade. Information regard- Due to such a high demand and less availabili- ing controversial drugs, adulterant drugs and ty of natural sources and unavailability of substitute drugs from Ayurvedic texts, jour-

IAMJ: JULY, 2017 2505 Puneshwar Keshari & Pradeep: Controversy, Adulteration And Substitution - Burning Problems In Ayurveda Practices nals and internet media were also used for bet- script manually in Bhurja-Patra or Taal- ter and comprehensive understanding about patra or other substances. During copying the subject. of these manuscripts by editors or transla- ENUMERATION OF CONTROVERSY, tors, mistakes might have occurred, which ADULTERATION AND SUBSTITUTION ultimately created controversy. Controversy and Controversial Drugs- • Single synonym given for multiple Controversial drugs or Sandigdha Dravyas are plants- In Ayurvedic lexicons single syn- those plants which are mentioned in Ayurveda onym is used for two or more than two classics but their botanical identification is not herbs which are totally different in mor- clear. The Ayurvedic and Sanskrit literature phology which creates controversy. These has described a herb with many synonyms, types of practices come in existence main- which do not precisely indicate the botanical ly during Nighantu periods e.g. Amrita is source but many a times attribute to therapeu- used for both Tinospora cordifolia (willd.) tic utility of the plant.7 For a single herb vari- Miers ex Hook & Thoms and Terminalia ous synonyms are mentioned in Ayurvedic chebula Retz. lexicons on the basis of morphology, habitat, • Geographical variation- India is a coun- origin, therapeutic uses etc. by using different try of multi diversity having high Hima- similes which are leading causes of controver- layas to sea level area and world highest sy. Quantum of information gained from rainy area to Thar Desert. Every area has Ayurvedic and other Sanskrit literature re- its own types of plant diversity, the plant vealed various incidences where on common which found in northern India mayn’t vernacular name is used for two or more en- found in southern part. So due to unavaila- tirely different plant species in Ayurvedic and bility of those species another species are other traditional system of medicines7 e.g. used for the same purpose, which ultimate- Amrita is used both for Tinospora cordifolia, ly creates controversy. For example Con- and Terminalia chebula which are totally dif- vulvulus microphyllus Sieb. ex Spreng is ferent drugs. Synonyms of herbs are also giv- used by the name of Sankhpushpi in north en according to the local languages. India is a India but due to geographical variation, it country having a variety of languages and is not available in southern part and there population dependent on different tribal and Clitoria ternatea Linn. is used. folklore medicine. Sometimes this is also re- • Poor understanding of Sanskrit word in sponsible for confusion in the nomenclature of different context- Ayurvedic classics are different plants having similar name. mainly written in Sanskrit language. Same word in different contexts give different Causes of Controversy 8,9,10 meaning, and due to poor understanding of  Mistake done during copying of Manu- this type of words by commentator further scripts- In past there was no printing ma- creates controversy, for example Pippala chine, Acharyas had written the manu- denotes Bodhivriksha when used in male

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gender and the same in female gender de- tonic) in Charaka Samhita. Bacopa mon- notes long pepper. nieri (L.) Pennel. is source for Brahmi but • Substitute leading controversy- Due to in North India Centella asiatica (L) urban non-availability or high cost in the market, (Mandookparni ) is called as Brahmi due there are chances of substitution of drugs. to similarity in therapeutic effects. If this practice continues for long time the • Vernacular names- Somewhere same original identity of a plant may become name is used in different languages but obscure and the substitute will be consi- having different meaning and identity dered as the original, which ultimately which is also a cause of controversy, e.g. creates controversy later on. For example- Matala in Tamil refers to Punica grana- Pashanbheda is used as urolithiasis (Ash- tum Linn. Where as in Kannada it pertains maribhedana) as the name indicates, so to Citrus medica. drugs like Bryophyllum pinnata ( Pathar- • Non Ayurvedic literature also creates chuda), Aerva lanata Juss etc. are used by controversy- In poetry Kamala, Utpala, name of Pashanbheda. But originally Ber- Kumuda, Kalhara all are referred as same genia ligualata (Wall.) Engle is identified plant lotus but botanically they are differ- as the source of Pashanbheda. ent species. • Parallel evolving knowledge system- • Polynomial nomenclature- Multiple Identifying species and naming them with names for single plant are given in Ayur- partly similar or fully similar properties, vedic lexicons. This type of trends aroused inherent qualities of accent and dialects during Nighantu Period. Different Nighan- may create controversy. For example tu written by different authors gave mul- Brahmi is mentioned in Ayurveda calssics tiple names for a single drug especially for as brain tonic. Mandukparni is another better understanding about the drug but drug mentioned as Medhya Rasayan (brain they created controversy later on.

Table 1: List of some controversial drugs7, 8 S. No. Sanskrit name of drugs Botanical sources of drugs 1. Brahmi 1. Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennel (Scrophulariaceae) 2. Centella asiatica (L) urban (Apiaceae) 2. Jeevanti 1. Leptadenia reticulata Wight and Arn. (Asclepiadaceae) 2. Desmotrichum fimbriatum Bl. Bidr (Orchiaceae)

3. Cimicifuga foetida Linn (Ranunculaceae) 3. Shankhapushpi 1.Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy (Convulvulaceae), 2, Evolvulus alsinoides (Convulvulaceae), 3. Canscora decussate Schult (Gentianaceae), 4. Clitorea ternatea Linn.(Papilonaceae).

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4. Daruharidra 1.Berberis aristata DC (Berberidaceae), 2. fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. (), 5. Rasana 1. Vanda tessellata Loud and Loud (Orchidaceae), 2. Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd (Scitaminaceae), 3. Pleuchea lanceolata C.B.Clarke. (Compositae) 4.Viscum album (Loranthaceae), 5.Withania coagulens (Stocks) Dunal (Solanaceae), 6.Aristolochia indica L.(Aristolochiaceae) 7.Inula racemosa Hook.f. (Asteraceae) 8.Rauwolfia serpentine (L.) Benth. ex Kurz (Apocynaceae), 9. Lochnera rosea (Apocynaceae) 10. Enicostemma littorale Blume (E. littorale) (Gentianaceae) 6. Nagakeshara 1.Mesua ferrea L.(Clusiaceae) 2.Ochrocarpus longifolius (Clusiaceae) 3,Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. (Dilleniaceae) 7. Twak 1.Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Eberm (Lauraceae) 2.Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae) 3.Cinnamomum cassia Blume(Lauraceae) 8. Amaravela 1.Cascutta reflexa Roxb. (Convolvulaceae), 2.Cassyatha filiformis Linn. (Lauraceae). 9. Pashanabheda 1.Aerva javanica Juss. (Amarantaceae) 2.Ammania baccifera Linn. (Lythraceae) 3.Bergenia ligulata Wall (Saxifragaceae) 4.Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.)Kurz. (Crassulaceae) 5.Coleus aromaticus Benth. (Lamiaceae) 6.Rotula aquatica Lour.(Boraginaceae) 7.Bridelia montana (Roxb.) Willd. (Euphorbiaceae) 8.Homania riparia (Euphorbiaceae) 9.Ocimum basillicum L.(Lamiaceae) 10. Talishpatra 1.Abies webbiana Lindl.(Pinaceae) 2.Taxus baccata Linn.(Pinaceae) 3.Rhododendron anthopogon D. Don.(Ericaceae)

ADULTERATION- adulteration is mainly done for commercial Adulteration is a practice of substituting origi- benefits.12 nal crude drug partially or wholly with other Deterioration, Admixture, Sophistication, similar looking substances but later is either Substitution, Inferiority and Spoilage are me- free from or inferior in chemical and therapeu- thods of adulteration. Intentional impairment tic properties. In simple word, it is debasement in the quality of drug is Deterioration. Addi- of an article.1 On the basis of motive; adultera- tion or mixing one substance to another acci- tion is intentional or direct and accidental or dentally or carelessly or due to ignorance is indirect adulteration. Direct or intentional Admixture. It is a type of unintentional adulte-

IAMJ: JULY, 2017 2508 Puneshwar Keshari & Pradeep: Controversy, Adulteration And Substitution - Burning Problems In Ayurveda Practices ration. Sophistication is the intentional or deli- fennel, clove, coriander, caraway etc. In berate type of adulteration in which some to- this type same crude drug is adulterated tally different substance is added in place of but after extracting major chemical consti- genuine drug while Inferiority refers to adding tuents, e.g. Volatile oil is extracted from of any substandard drug, and Spoilage is due bud of Lavanga (clove) and exhausted to the attack of microorganisms or parasitic buds are adulterated. In this case some- infestation.1 times extra additives are used to make the exhausted drugs attractive. Major Intentional types of Adultera- • Using synthetic chemicals to enhance nat- tion1,11,13 ural character- Synthetic chemicals are • Substitution with substandard commercial used as adulterant which enhances the nat- varieties- This is the most common type of ural characteristics of original drug, for adulteration in which low standard drugs example, Citral is added in citrus oil like are mixed which are morphologically, oil of lemon or orange oil. chemically and therapeutically resembles • Presence of vegetative matter of same to the original crude drugs, for example plant- Instead of proper used parts of crude Arabian senna is used instead of Indian drugs other parts of same species or minia- senna. ture species grown around the large spe- • Using superficially similar inferior drugs – cies are mixed with genuine crude drugs. In this type of adulteration adulterants are For example instead of Moola (root) of superficially similar in appearance but Bala (Sida cardifolia) stem or whole parts may or may not having any chemical or of plant is used. This type of adulteration therapeutic value as the original crude occurs in both intentional and unintention- drugs. For example papaya seeds are adul- al adulteration. terated with Piper nigrum, saffron is ad- • Harmful adulterants - For increasing mixed with dried flowers of Carthamus weight of crude drugs for commercial tinctorious. profit, some harmful substances are added • Using artificially manufactured substance with genuine crude drugs, for example – In this type of adulteration artificially stone pieces and sand particles mixed in manufactured substances resemble to orig- Guggulu (gum of Commiphora mukul). inal crude drugs, are adulterated. This type • Adulteration of powders- The drugs which of adulteration is done for costlier drugs. are commonly found in powder forms are For example Calcium carbonate com- adulterated with powder of other sub- pounds are used by name of Vansha lo- stances resembling the same, examples are chan. dextrin in ipecacuanha and Kampillak • Using exhausted drug - This type of adul- (Malotous phillipinensis) powder is adul- teration is usually done for those drugs terated with Annatto dye ( Bixa orellana which contain volatile oil, for examples Linn.)

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Reason for Adulteration- particular season, particular place and par- 1. Intentional adulteration is done mainly due ticular part of plant should be collected but to commercial benefits, when there is high ignorance of these things during collection demand but less availability of drugs. and drugs collected carelessly may cause 2. Unintentional adulteration is done due to adulteration. following reasons : 14,15 • Improper storage- Due to improper storage • Confusion in vernacular names- e.g. Aerva physical factors such as air (oxygen), hu- lanata (source of Pashanbheda in south) midity, light, and temperature can bring adulterated as Bergenia ligualata. about deterioration directly or indirectly • Lack of knowledge about authentic source- and use of such type of drug acts as adulte- e.g. Calophyllum inophyllum is adultered rant. with Mesua ferra. • Imperfect preparation- Some of crude • Similarity in color and morphology – For drugs should be processed before market- example Mucuna utilis and Mucuna dee- ing, during such processing improper ringiana are used for Mucuna pruriens technique may destroy active constituents • Careless collection/ improper collection – e.g. over drying of crude drugs, removal of Definite part of herb should be collected in cork from zinger etc.

Table 2: List of few commonly used adulterants in Ayurveda16, 17 S, No, Main Drugs Adulterants 1. Mussabar(Aloe barbadensis) Black catechu (Acacia catechu) 2. Nagkeshara (Mesua ferrea) Buds of Mammea suriga and Calophyllum inophyllum 3. Punarnawa ( Boerhavia diffusa) Trianthema portulachastrum 4. Sthulaila (Amomum subulatum) Heracleum rigens 5. Vacha (Acorus calamus) Alpinia officinarum, Alpinia galangal 6. Vasa (Adhatoda vasica) Ailanthus excels 7. Guggulu (Gum of Commiphora wightii) Gum resin of Boswellia serrata, Hymenodictyon excelsura 8. Bol or Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) Gum of Commiphora wightii 9. Kutaja (Holarrhena antidysenterica) Wrightia tinctoria, Wrightia tomentosa 10. Ashoka (Saraca indica) Polyalthia longifoia

SUBSTITUTION – this practices come in existence. But Vagbhat- Substitution is a replacement of equivalent ta has mentioned that the dravya having simi- drugs in place of original drugs on the basis of lar Ras (taste), Guna(characteristic), Veerya similar pharmacological actions and therapeu- (potency) and Vipaka should be used in ab- tic uses. In Ayurveda, substitution is described sence of each other. So Abhava Pratinidhi by the name of Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya. Dravya is a replacement of original drug basi- During Samhita Period concept of adulteration cally having similar Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vi- and substitution was not existed but later on pak and mostly on Karma. Description of Ab-

IAMJ: JULY, 2017 2510 Puneshwar Keshari & Pradeep: Controversy, Adulteration And Substitution - Burning Problems In Ayurveda Practices ahva Pratinidhi Dravyas are mentioned in erals-Metals origin (Bhoumya Dravya) and 5 Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Yogratnakar and food materials (Ahara Dravya) mentioned for Bhaishajya-Ratnawali.17-19 There are 47 drugs Abhava Pratinidhi Dravya in Bhavaprakash of plant origin (Sthavar Dravya), 2 drugs of Nighantu.9,17 animal origin (Jangam Dravya), 7 drugs Min-

Table 3: List of substitute drugs (herbs) mentioned in Bhavaprakash Nighantu9, 17 S. No. Main Drugs Substitute drugs Sanskrit name Botanical name Sanskrit name Botanical name 1. Chitraka Plumbago zeylanicum Linn. Danti Baliospermum montanum Mu- ell 2. Dhanavyasa Alhagi camerlorum Fisch. Duralabha Fagonia Arabica Linn. 3. Tagara Valeriana wallichii D C Kushtha Saussurea lappa C B Clarke 4. Moorva Marsedenia tenacissima W Jhingini Odina woodier Roxb. 5. Ahimsra Capparis sepiaria Maankand Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott 6. Lakshmana Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. or Neelakanth Adiantum caudatum Linn. or Ipomoea sepiara Koenig ex Roxb ashikha (Mayur- Celiosia cristata Linn. shikha) 7. Bakula Mimusops elengi Linn. Kalhaar [Rakta Nelumbo speciosum Willd. / Kumud] Nelumbium rubra Roxb. 8. Utpal Nymphea pubescens Willd. Nym- Pankaj Nelumbo speciosum Willd/ phea stellata Will. Nelumbo nucifera Willd 9. Neel-utpala Nymphea stellata Willd/ Nymphea Kumud Nymphea alba/ N.rubra Nouchali Burm.f. Roxb.ex Andrews /N.edulisDC 10. Jati pushpa Myristica fragrans Houtt. Lavanga Syzygium aromaticum (Linn) Merr. & L.M.Perry 11. Arka Payas Calotropis gigantean (Linn) R.Br. Arka patra swara- Calotropis gigantean (Linn) (dugdha) ex Ait sa R.Br. ex Ait 12. Poushkar Inula racemosa Hook.f Kustha Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke 13. Langali Gloriosa superb Linn. Kustha Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke 14. Sthouneya Clerodendron infortunatum L Kustha Saussurea lappa C.B. Clarke 15. Chavika Piper chaba Hunter Pippali mula Piper longum Linn.

16. Gaja-Pippali Scindapsus officinalis Schott Pippali mula Piper longum Linn. 17. Somraji (Baku- Psoralea corylifolia Linn. Prapunnad phala Cassia tora chi ) (Chakramar da) 18. Daru-nisha (Da- Berberis aristata D C Nisha (Haridra) Curcuma longa Linn. ruHaridra 19. Rasanjana Berberis aristata D C Darvi Berberis aristata D C 20. Talispatra Abbies webbiana Linn. Swarnataali Not yet identified 21. Bharangi Clerodendrum serratum Spreng Talispatra/ Kan- Abbies webbiana/ takari mula Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad & Wendl

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22. Madhuyasti Glycrrhiza glabra Linn. Dhataki Woodfordia floribunda Salisb 23. Amlavetasa Garcinia pedunculata Roxb. Chukra Rumex vesicarius Linn 24. Draksha Vitis vinifera Linn. Kashmari Gmelina arborea Linn (Gambhari) 25. Kashmari phala Gmelina arborea Linn. Jati pushpa Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Gambhari) 26. Draksha & Vitis vinifera & Gmelina arborea Madhuca Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel. Gambhari 27. Kankola Piper cubeba Linn.f. Sugandhi Mustak Cyperus rotundus Linn. 28. Karpura Cinnamomum camphora Nees & Granthipara Angelica glauca Edgw Eberm 29. Kumkum Crocus sativus Linn. Kusumbha Carthamus tinctorius Linn. 30. Shrikhanda Santalum album Linn. Karpura Cinnamomum camphora Nees (Sweta chandan) & Eberm 31. Sweta chandan Santalum album Linn. Rakta chandan Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.f. 32. Karpura Cinnamomum camphora Nees & Rakta chandan Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.f. Eberm 33. Rakta Chandan Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.f. Usheera Vetiveria zizanoides Linn. 34. Ativisha Aconitum heterophyllum Wall Musta Cyperus rotundus Linn. 35. Shiva Terminalia chebula Retz. Shiva Emblica offcinalis Gaertn. 36. Nagpushpa Mesua ferrea Linn. Padma keshar Nelumbium speciosum Willd. (Nagkeshar) 37. Meda Polygonatum cirrifoluim Linn. Vari (Shatavari) Asparagus racemosus Willd. 38. Mahameda Polygonatum verticillate Vari (Shatavari) Asparagus racemosus Willd. 39. Jeevak Microstylis wallichi Linn. Vidari kanda Pueraria tuberose D C OR Ipomoea Digitata Linn. 40. Rishabhaka Microstysis muscifera Vidari kanda Pueraria tuberose D C OR Ipomoea Digitata Linn. 41. Kakoli Fritillaria roylei Ashwagandha Withania somnifera 42. Ksheerakakoli Liluim polyphyllum Ashwagandha Withania somnifera 43. Riddhi Habenaria edgeworthii Varahi kanda Dioscorea bulbifera Linn. 44. Vriddhi Habenaria latilabris Varahi kanda Dioscorea bulbifera Linn 45. Varahi kanda Dioscorea bulbifera Linn Charmakaralu Tacca aspera Roxb. 46. Bhallatak- asa- Semecarpus anacarduim Linn. f. Rakta- chandan Pterocarpus santalinus Linn.f. hyta (unable to tolerate) 47. Bhallatak Semecarpus anacarduim Linn. f. Chitra Plumbago zeylanica Linn.

NEED FOR SUBSTITUTION9, 10, 11, 13, 15 therapeutic value. For example most of • Non-availability of the drug: Some drugs from Astavarga are not easily avail- drugs mentioned in Ayurvedic lexicon are able so those drugs are substituted by other not available nowadays, so those drugs are ones e.g. Meda and Mahameda are substi- substituted by other drugs having similar tuted by Shatavari.

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• Uncertain identity of the drug: The • Substitution of species belonging in drugs which are mentioned in Ayurvedic same family – Datura metal is substituted classics but their botanical identity is not by Datura stamonium. clear those are substituted by known one • Using different species having common e.g. for the herb Lakshmana, different spe- Sanskrit name - Two types of Gokshura cies such as Arlia quinquefolia, Ipomea are used, they are Tribulus terrestris (Lag- sepiaria etc. are considered. hu Gokshur) and Padalium murex (Brihat • Cost of the drug: Kumkuma (Crocus sati- Gokshura). vus) is more costly so it is substituted by • Using different parts of same plant – less expensive Kusumbha (Carthamus tincto- Instead of root of Sida cordifolia whole rius Linn.). plants of Sida cordifolia is used. • Geographical distribution of the drug: • Due to similar action- Aamalki (Embelica Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata) is used in officinalis) is taken instead of Bhallatak Northern India while in southern parts Al- (Semicarpus anacardium) for Rasayan pinia galanga is used as Rasana and Van- karma (rejunaive action). da roxburghii is considered as source in Bengal. DISCUSSION • The adverse reaction of the drug: Vasa Controversy, Adulteration and Substitution (Adhatoda vasica) is good Rakta-Pittahara are interrelated with each other. Substitution (antihaemorrhagic) drug, but having abor- practices if exists for long time the original tificiant activity, so instead of this drug identity of a plant may become obscure and Laksha (Lacifer lacca), Ashoka (Saraca the substitute will be considered as the origi- asoka) etc. are used in pregnant women for nal, leading to create controversy. Non- the same purpose. availability and high market price of crude • Seasonal availability of drug- Punarna- drugs led to adulteration. Similarly controver- wa (Boerhaavia diffusa) is commonly not sy about authentic botanical source of medi- found throughout the year so for that Tri- cinal plants dealt in classical Ayurveda texts anthema portulacastrum (Varshabhu) can led a cause of substitution because of lack of be used as substitute, which is found proper authentication, the drugs having similar throughout the year. morphology or similar therapeutic effects might be practiced. Controversy, adulteration TYPES OF SUBSTITUTION- 9,0,11,13,15,21 and substitution create problems for standardi- • Substitution with totally different drug- zation of Ayurvedic practices and herbal Use of Danti ( Baliospermum montanum products. Substitution of genuine drug is need ) as a substitute of Chitraka ( Plumbgo ze- of time because of unavailability of genuine lenycum). drugs due to deforestation, global warming, lack of adequate cultivation practices etc. Al- though substitution should be only done for

IAMJ: JULY, 2017 2513 Puneshwar Keshari & Pradeep: Controversy, Adulteration And Substitution - Burning Problems In Ayurveda Practices endangered and red listed plants and the major should be applied. Substitution of drugs constituent of a preparation should not be should only suggested when therapeutic effi- substituted. The rational substitution in Ayur- cacy of substituted drug is similar to original veda is based on similarities in Guna of both one. the drugs and not on inferior qualities. It The uniformity in selection of crude drugs for should be properly validated in contemporary pharmaceutical preparations and practices context using both Ayurvedic principles and should maintain the standardization of Ayur- Modern Scientific tools. World Health Organ- vedic products and for this Ayurvedic phar- ization (WHO), in its publication on quality macopeia of India (API) and Ayurvedic for- standards for medicinal plant materials, re- mulary of India (AFI) is playing a vital role, commends rejecting any batch of raw material, so maximum number of drugs mentioned in which has more than 5% of any other plant classics and practiced traditionally should be part of the same plant (e.g. stem in leaf drugs), incorporated in API and AFI. never the less if they are derived from the au- thentic plant. Based on these standards, adulte- CONCLUSION ration whether, intentional or unintentional, • Controversy about drugs is mainly due to should be rejected. Collectors, suppliers and polynomial system of nomenclature in traders should be educated for authentic classical texts. sources of drugs. Intentional adulteration • Naama-Roopa (nomenclature and mor- should be discouraged by strictly implement- phology) of drugs are clear in Samhitas, ing the regulatory laws. Due to adulteration controversy aroused mainly due to Nirukti faith in Ayurvedic practices and drugs has de- (basonyms)and Paryaya (synonyms) are clined and adulteration in market samples is given by different Nighantus. the greatest drawback in promotion of herbal • Proper identification of original botanical drugs. So for quality, safety and standardiza- source is even a great problem till date. tion purpose of Ayurvedic products and prac- • Adulteration and Substitution are different. tices the problem related with controversy, The most essential criteria for substitution substitution and adulteration of drugs should is the pharmacological activity rather than be resolved for its worldwide acceptance. morphology or phytoconstituents. The prime factor for resolution of controversy • Substitution of the herbs is the need of the is the proper authentication of botanical source hour with more than 300 medicinal plants of medicinal herbs mentioned in classics, for becoming red listed. this, literature review, ethno-botanical survey, • Adulteration is a malpractice not only medicinal plants survey and drug evaluation done intentionally but accidentally due to (morphological, microscopic, chemical, physi- involvement of untrained personnel in col- cal and biological evaluation) should be done. lection and trade. Similarly for determination and detection of • Controversy about authentic botanical adulteration, various steps of drug evaluation source of medicinal plants dealt in clas-

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