Adulteration of Drugs of Natural Origin

• Adulteration of Drugs refers to the intentional or unintentional addition, substitution, or removal of substances in a drug, compromising its quality and safety.

Types of Adulteration of Drugs

• Adulteration refers to the contamination or addition of inferior substances to food, beverages, or other products, making them unsafe for consumption.

• It can be broadly classified into two types:

1) Direct Adulteration

• Direct adulteration occurs when harmful substances are deliberately added to food products to increase quantity, enhance appearance, or reduce costs.

• These substances are often toxic and pose serious health risks.

Examples of Direct Adulteration

• Addition of non-edible colors – e.g., Metanil yellow in turmeric

• Mixing toxic chemicals – e.g., Formalin in milk and fish

• Use of non-food-grade additives – e.g., Washing powder in ice cream

• Blending with inferior substances – e.g., Starch in milk or ghee

2) Indirect Adulteration

• Indirect adulteration occurs unintentionally due to environmental contamination, improper handling, or poor storage conditions.

• It usually happens during production, processing, transportation, or packaging.

Examples of Indirect Adulteration

• Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables – e.g., DDT, lead, mercury

• Heavy metal contamination in water – e.g., Arsenic, cadmium

• Oil rancidity due to improper storage – leading to toxic effects

• Rodent or insect contamination – e.g., Presence of insect parts in grains

Causes of Adulteration

• Economic Gain: Lower production costs by using cheaper materials.

• Lack of Regulation: Inadequate enforcement of quality standards.

• Misidentification: Errors in plant or species identification leading to the use of incorrect materials.

• Environmental Factors: Contamination from soil, water, or air pollutants.

Examples of Adulteration

Plant-Based Drugs

• Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Adulterated with metanil yellow (a synthetic dye) to enhance color.

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Adulterated with wheat flour or other fillers to increase weight.

Animal-Based Drugs

• Honey: Adulterated with sugar syrups or corn syrup.

• Insulin: Originally extracted from animal pancreases, potential contamination if not properly purified.

Detection and Prevention of Adulteration

• Strict Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing and enforcing standards like the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or the European Pharmacopoeia.

• Supplier Verification: Ensuring that raw materials are sourced from reputable suppliers.

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Adhering to GMP to minimize contamination and ensure consistency.

• Advanced Analytical Techniques: Utilizing sophisticated methods for detection (discussed in evaluation methods below).