Abstract

PHARMACOVIGILANCE OF HERBAL DRUGS: A REVIEW

Archana V. Rajdeo*

ABSTRACT

Ayurvedic medicines are used since ancient times. Herbal formulations being widely accepted therapeutic agents as antidiabetics, antiarthritics, hepatoprotectives, cough remedies, memory enhancers, and adaptogens. The purpose of pharmacovigilance is to detect, assess, and understand, and to prevent the adverse effects or any other possible drug-related problems, related to herbal, traditional, and complementary medicines. The objective of the present article is to review the recent trends and challenges posed in the practice of pharmacovigilance of herbal drugs. An Adverse Reaction is defined as a noxious and unintended response to a marketed health product, which occurs at doses normally used or tested for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or the modification of an organic function. Adverse events may also arise from the misuse of the wrong species of medicinal plants, incorrect dosing, errors in the use of herbal medicines by healthcare providers and consumers, interactions with other medicines, and use of products contaminated with potentially hazardous substances, such as toxic metals, pathogenic microorganisms, and agrochemical residues. The availability of herbal products as “over-the- counter” drugs and their increasing use since these products are not currently monitored for their safety, efficacy, and quality. It has now become evident, that there is need for a holistic approach to the health care.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, herbal drugs, pharmacovigilance.