Standardization and Phytochemical Profiling of Medicinal Plant Extracts: Approaches and Advances

Abstract

Standardization of herbal medicines involves the verification of their identity and the evaluation of their quality, purity, and potency. In recent years, there has been significant advancement in the analytical characterization of crude drugs, incorporating botanical, chemical, spectroscopic, and biological techniques. These modern approaches complement traditional methods by offering more precise and reproducible assessments of active constituents. As herbal formulations gain increasing recognition in modern healthcare, particularly those derived from Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, the need for robust standardization protocols has become essential to ensure safety and efficacy.

With the growing demand for plant-based treatments, the extraction of these bioactive compounds has been a critical area of research.

This review highlights the evolution of extraction methodologies for herbal drugs, evaluating their respective benefits and limitations. It also underscores the importance of choosing appropriate solvents and conditions to preserve phytochemical integrity. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern extraction technologies and rigorous standardization practices, the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants can be more effectively harnessed for evidence-based herbal drug development.