Composition and Quality Control of Herbal Medicines

Sendker J, Sheridan H

Abstract

Herbal medicine, or "phyto-medicine," refers to the practice of using plant materials for medicinal purposes. Across the globe, traditional herbal medicines play a significant role in healthcare, and the worldwide annual market for these products approaches US $60 billion. Several challenges face the increasing growth in the herbal medicine and herbal medicinal product markets. These challenges relate to the lack of harmonization of international standards; sustainable production of high-quality herbal material in the face of overharvesting of wild species; and determining and establishing the quality, safety, and efficacy of these materials, which can range from simple, one-herb formulas to complex, multi-component formulas as seen in some traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The increasing understanding of the minor components' importance and synergism in the bioactivity of herbal medicine poses numerous scientific questions that need to be addressed by targeted research programs. In this chapter we deal with the important topics of the composition of herbal medicines and the quality control of these medicinal products, with special emphasis on the role of concomitant compounds and co-effectors; we examine the production chain and the complex factors that impact the composition of the final herbal material; we discuss and evaluate the current methods and accepted gold standards for quality control of herbal materials and finished products; and we also examine emerging technologies and consider changes in international regulations and the impact they may have on this area.

Projects the publication originates from