Authentication of Herbs by Physiological and Morphological Studies Through HPTLC, ICP-MS, UV Spectroscopy, Genetic Engineering and PCR

The article discusses the need for stringent quality control measures in the global herbal medicinal products market to address issues like adulteration and contamination. It highlights research on Eclipta alba (Bhringaraj) using a multi-disciplinary approach that combines physiological and morphological studies, HPTLC, ICP-MS, UV Spectroscopy, and genetic engineering techniques like DNA barcoding/PCR. This integrated strategy offers a comprehensive three-tiered confirmation of botanical origin, chemical profile, and safety (heavy metal) profile, which is crucial for the standardization and regulation of herbal medicines.