DEPLETION OF GENUINE RAW DRUGS: A RISING THREAT IN AYURVEDIC DRUG MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Abstract

The last decade witnessed an accelerated increase of the global acceptance of traditional medicines and herbal products. But unfortunately there is no organized cultivation of the medicinal plants and most of the precious species are facing the threat of destructive harvesting. Majority of the manufacturers are thus forced to substitute or avoid the unavailable ingredients thus hindering the quality and safety of the marketed products. For analysing this scenario an in depth study was undertaken taking drugs of Dasamoola group as a representative of raw drug category facing huge consumption. The study intended to document the current availability status of Dasamoola drugs in the Kerala Ayurveda drug manufacturing industry and the measures adopted by the industry to overcome the scarcity of these drugs through a Cross sectional survey. Result of the study points out that over usage, destructive harvesting and lack of cultivation have alarmingly reduced the availability of Dasamoola group drugs in Kerala pharmacies. It has also documented the substitution of these drugs by the pharmacies and data regarding the adulteration faced by them. Thus this study invites an attention on the urgent need of judicious usage, cultivation and strict government regulations for such medicinal plants like Dasamoola which has high global demand.