About Authors:
R.C. Gedar1*, Rakesh Sharma2, Sanjeev Sharma2
1Seth G. L. Bihani S. D. college of technical education, IPSDR, Sriganganagar (Raj.)
2J. C. D. M. Pharmacy College, Sirsa (Hry.)
*rcgedar@gmail.com
Abstract
This review highlights the current advances in knowledge about the safety, efficacy and quality control of botanical medicines. Phytotherapeutic agents are standardized herbal preparations consisting of complex mixtures of one or more plants which contain as active ingredients plant parts or plant material in the crude or processed state. A marked growth in the worldwide phytotherapeutic market has occurred over the last 15 years. For the European and USA markets alone, this will reach about $7 billion and $5 billion per annum, respectively, in 1999, and hasthus attracted the interest of most large pharmaceutical companies. Insufficient data exist for most plants to guarantee their quality, efficacy and safety. The idea that herbal drugs are safe and free from side effects is false.