Collection and preservation of crude drugs: An overview

For drug manufacturing or preparation, it is utmost important to ensure that the raw materials are in good quality and effective. A drug is more efficacious when it is collected from proper place and by following standard prescribed procedures. The drug under consideration may have altered or reduced properties owing to the activities of environmental contaminants and pathogens. Hence, Collection and preservation of the crude materials are two central steps so as to retain the required properties of the drug. It is important to stick to proper agricultural and collection practices, best plant authentication and identification practice, good manufacturing practice and good laboratory practice to ensure safety and efficacy. Medicinal plants must be harvested at a time when it yields the best quality required for the cause. Drugs can be preserved by different techniques like drying, fermentation, stabilization and folk preservation techniques. For keeping crude drugs in a good condition for a longer period of time, it is important to store them in a proper way following standard tools and techniques. Prior to manufacture, the crude drugs should pass through a series of tests so as to ensure that its quality is not compromised.