Role of Pharmacognosy in Herbal Drug Industry

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Pharmacognosy, the science of medicinal natural products, plays a pivotal role in the herbal drug industry by bridging traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical sciences. With the growing global inclination toward natural remedies, herbal drugs have gained immense popularity due to their perceived safety, cultural acceptance, and therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacognosy contributes to every stage of herbal drug development—from sourcing and identifying medicinal plants to extracting, standardizing, and evaluating their bioactive constituents. This paper explores the critical functions of pharmacognosy in quality control, phytochemical standardization, regulatory compliance, and innovation in herbal formulations. The integration of advanced technologies such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and molecular biology tools further enhances the reliability of pharmacognostic approaches. With increased challenges in authentication, adulteration, and variable efficacy of herbal products, pharmacognosy remains the scientific backbone ensuring the safety, efficacy, and consistency of herbal drugs in both domestic and global markets.

KEYWORDS: Pharmacognosy, Herbal Drug Industry, Phytochemistry, Quality Control, Plant-Based Medicines