WHO guidelines for assessment of herbal drugs :

 Authentication (Stage of collection, parts of the plant collected, regional

status, botanical identity like phytomorphology, microscopical and histological
analysis, taxonomical identity, etc.)
 Foreign matter (herbs collected should be free from soil, insect parts or
animal excreta, etc.)
 Organoleptic evaluation (sensory characters – taste, appearance, odor, feel
of the drug, etc.)
 Collection of the drug from correct natural sources either wild or cultivated
 Collect the crude drug at proper time & in an appropriate manner
 Collect the required parts of the plants
 Preparation of collected drugs by proper cleaning and drying
 Proper preservation of the drug in order to avoid contamination microbes,
fungi and insects
 Biochemical variation in the drugs
 Safety is a fundamental principle in the provision of herbal medicines and
herbal products of health care, and a critical component of Quality control.

ICH guidelines for assessment of herbal drugs

Assessment of Quality
Assessment of safety
Assessment of efficacy
Intended use