STANDARDIZATION OF HERBAL DRUGS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON HERBAL CREAM: A REVIEW RESEARCH ARTICLE

Herbal medicines have been widely used for centuries in traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani. In recent decades, the increasing global acceptance of herbal formulations has highlighted the necessity for proper standardization, quality control, and scientific validation of herbal products. Herbal creams are among the most commonly used topical formulations because of their ease of application, patient compliance, and therapeutic efficacy. However, variability in phytochemical constituents, lack of standard manufacturing procedures, and contamination issues create challenges in maintaining consistency and quality. The present review article focuses on the standardization of herbal drugs with special emphasis on herbal cream formulations. It discusses pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical analysis, phytochemical screening, methods for preparation and evaluation of herbal creams, and modern analytical techniques used in herbal standardization. The article also highlights the importance of chromatographic techniques such as TLC and HPTLC in ensuring the identity, purity, and efficacy of herbal formulations. The study concludes that standardization of herbal creams using modern scientific tools is essential for ensuring safety, quality, therapeutic effectiveness, and global acceptance of herbal products.

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