Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest medical systems of the world, gaining popularity with each passing day. The lush blend of medicinal herbs with the age-old Indian tradition creates the magical healing formula passed on from generation. As the demand for these medicines increases, there is an increased need for reliable ayurvedic and herbal medicines testing.
Rooted in nature’s goodness and flourishing in the philosophy of holistic wellness, ayurvedic products are no less than the elixir itself. However, it might not be as bedneficial as it should be if not used in the right proportion or kept in the right conditions. This is where Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines Testing becomes not just relevant, but essential.
In this blog, we discuss the relevance of ayurvedic herb products testing services in the Indian market. Keep reading!
Why is Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines Testing Important?
Ayurvedic and herbal products testing services are mandatory in today’s growing and glowing market. The risk of microbial contamination and other potential remains even if the ayurvedic medicinal products are made with natural ingredients. One of the major threats is heavy mental contamination where some medicines contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic posing a health threat to children and pregnant women. Another potential threat is the pesticide residue that gets into the products through raw herbs.
While making medicines, herbs are meant to be added in a defined ratio to complement the composition. However, at times, incorrect plant identification or substitution, or the presence of undeclared synthetic substances can lead to Ayurvedic medicines also being prone to microbial contamination such as E. coli or Salmonella, causing harm than healing.
These issues can lead to severe health issues creating a widespread dip in consumer trust and brand reputation and even regulatory actions. These reasons intensify the need for the testing of ayurvedic medicines before reaching the market ensuring safety, purity and efficacy.
Regulatory Standards for Ayurvedic Medicines in India
The Indian government is very strict when it comes to healthcare compliance; the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Sidha, and Homoeopathy) and other regulatory bodies such as FSSAI and CDSCO have set specific guidelines and quality standards.
These guidelines include mandatory testing of raw materials for identity and authenticity, active ingredients and marker compounds. Finished goods are tested for heavy metals, toxins, microbes, residues, and shelf-life study. Manufacturers that comply with these guidelines and protocols are allowed to sell products in India and export to foreign countries.
What Does Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines Testing Include?
An herbal medicine testing laboratory supports manufacturers in ensuring the quality of their products and the safety of consumers. Accredited ayurvedic medicine testing laboratories test medicines for a wide range of parameters.
Here are the major tests under the comprehensive Ayurvedic herb products testing services:
Phytochemical Analysis
This is a study conducted to determine the presence of bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, or saponins. It helps in assessing the quality of the medicine and ensuring standardisation of medicines.
Heavy Metal Testing
Every ayurvedic medicine undergoes heavy mental tests to ensure safety and quality. Herbal medicine testing laboratories test products for toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. It is very pivotal in determining the quality of the medicines and mandatory for export compliance.
Pesticide Residue Testing
As ayurvedic medicines are made with plant-based ingredients, they might contain pesticide residues. An all-encompassing pesticide residue testing ensures the herbal raw materials are free from harmful agricultural chemicals.
Microbial Contamination Testing
Ayurvedic medicine testing labs have dedicated microbiological labs to carry out contamination and pathological tests. It detects harmful pathogens such as bacteria, moulds, and yeasts that could compromise health.
Identification & Adulteration Checks
The use of the right ingredients is mandatory for every product, especially for ayurvedic medicines. Identification and adulteration tests check the ingredients, verify the correct botanical source and check for adulterants or substitutes. This helps manufacturers and regulatory authorities ensure the efficacy of the product.
Stability & Shelf-life Studies
Natural ingredients tend to change colour, smell, and properties faster than synthetic ingredients, making ayurvedic medicines prone to early expiration. Shelf-life studies determine how long the product remains safe and effective under defined conditions. This helps in establishing the expiry date of each medicine.
Challenges in Finding Reliable Ayurvedic Products Testing Services
As mandatory as ayurvedic products testing services are, the complexities of the procedures make it challenging. Ayurvedic medicines have a complex polyherbal formulation which makes the isolation of active ingredients a difficult task.
As Ayurveda is an Indian origin medicine, there aren’t universally accepted pharmacopeial standards for certain herbs. Variability in raw material quality due to seasonal and geographic factors also adds to these issues.
Accurate Results with Certified Ayurvedic Testing Lab
In order to tackle the challenges that appear during product testing and give out accurate results, we need a certified Ayurvedic and Herbal medicines testing. With certifications such as NABL (ISO/IEC 17025:2017), laboratories ensure that the products abide by national and international standards. Analytical testing laboratories that follow Good Laboratory Practices and use validated methods as per AYUSH, WHO, and other pharmacopoeia are also considered ideal.
ITC Labs: Your Trusted Ayurvedic Medicine Testing Lab
With almost four decades of experience in serving the industry, ITC Labs is committed to offering precise, reliable, and compliant Ayurvedic and Herbal Products Testing Services. Our primary goal is to provide a customer-first testing environment, where we create a safer ayurvedic healthcare system while aiding the global expansion of the medicines.
Our missions are supported by our expert analysts, scientists, and technicians working in both of our labs, Chennai and Panchkula. Our laboratories are equipped with the most modern machinery such as CAMAG’s advanced TLC Scanner & Linomat for fingerprinting, and HPLC, GC-MS/MS, AAS, and ICP-MS for precise residue analysis. We have a dedicated AYUSH team for the identification and testing of herbal ID, raw material verification, and finished products.
Embrace Scientific Ayurveda
Scientific testing and verification become imperative as Ayurvedic medicines continue to expand their horizons. This helps in ensuring the product quality, maintaining the brand reputation, and smoothing the regulatory procedures. Test reports from a certified ayurvedic testing laboratory make international trade more accessible and enable wider acceptance.
So, if you’re wondering where to find a reliable ayurvedic medicines testing lab near me, or in search of a partner for ayurvedic medicines pharmaceutical testing services, you are in safe hands. At ITC Labs, we offer comprehensive support from sample collection to dispatch invoice for ayurvedic and herbal medicines testing.
Reach out to us today and avail the best services – https://www.itclabs.com/contact-us/