Application of Modern trends of Systematics in Authentication of Traded Medicinal Plants

Abstract

High global consumption of medicinal plants coupled with their demand in markets and lack of resources lead to the threatening issue of adulteration. Correct identification of pure and genuine medicinal material is prerequisite for safety and efficacy of plant based medicines. The present research project is based on taxonomic, pharmacognostic, physicochemical and chemical analysis of eight cases of traded medicinal plants presented in tables, figures, chemical profile and pictorial guide of original source like Berberis aristata, Colchicum luteum, Alcea rosea, Sisymbrium irio, Argyrolobium roseum, Centipeda minima, Eruca sativa and Eucalyptus camaldulensis with their adulterants. These taxonomic problematic medicinal plants are authenticated by detailed study of characters like morphology and organolepty, shape of epidermal cells and their margins, stomatal type, trichome type, pollen shape and exine sculpture pattern, solubility, fluorescence behavior under visible and ultra violet (UV) light, differentiation in physicochemical analysis, total phenol and total flavonoid content (TPC and TFC), quercetin level under High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), percentage scavenging activity and antioxidant potential. The findings of the present research project authenticate genuine source of medicinal importance like Zereshk (Berberis aristata from its adulterants Berberis lyceum and Vitis Jacquemontii); Surunjaan talkh (Colchicum luteum from its adulterant Narcissus tazetta); Gul-e-kheira (Alcea rosea from its adulterant Hibiscus syriacus); Khoob kalan (Sisymbrium irio from its adulterant Coronopus didymus); Makhni booti (Argyrolobium roseum from its adulterant Viola stocksii); Nakchikni (Centipeda minima from its adulterant Wattakaka volubilis); Tara Mira (Eruca sativa from its adulterant Naturtium officinale) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis from its adulterant Populus ciliata and Salix alba). Outcomes of this research are helpful in maintaining quality, safety and efficacy of traded medicinal plants. In addition, authentication of genuine medicinal source may lead to extraction of required chemical constituents that may assist in future studies to develop natural herbal drugs at global perspectives.