Quality Control Tests for Herbal Products

Foreign Matter

Measures: Non-medicinal parts (e.g., sand, insects). Tells us: Purity of the sample. Use: Routine test for raw herbs.

Loss on Drying

Measures: Moisture + volatiles lost during drying. Tells us: Risk of microbial growth. Use: For all plant materials.

Water Content

Measures: Exact water content. Tells us: Stability & shelf life. Use: With dried extracts, hygroscopic materials.

Pesticides

Measures: Residual agrochemicals. Tells us: Toxicity and safety compliance. Use: Always for cultivated herbs.

Microbial Contamination

Measures: Pathogens, bacteria, fungi. Tells us: Safety for consumption. Use: Required for finished herbal products.

Total Ash

Measures: Total inorganic residue. Tells us: Purity + mineral content. Use: Raw herbs identity/purity check.

Ash Insoluble in Hydrochloric Acid

Measures: Indigestible matter like sand or silicates. Tells us: Contamination with earth materials. Use: After high total ash is found.

Extractable Matter

Measures: Yield of active constituents in a solvent. Tells us: Potency/strength of the herb. Use: Comparing extract quality.

Swelling Index

Measures: Volume expansion of mucilage. Tells us: Bulk-forming or demulcent property. Use: For herbs like psyllium, flaxseed.

Bitterness Value

Measures: Intensity of bitterness. Tells us: Therapeutic potency of bitter herbs. Use: For digestive or tonic herbs.

Heavy Metals

Measures: Toxic metals like Pb, Hg, Cd. Tells us: Toxicity risk. Use: Mandatory for all herbal products.

Aflatoxins

Measures: Fungal toxins (e.g. from Aspergillus). Tells us: Fungal contamination. Use: For stored or mold-prone herbs.

Radioactive Contamination

Measures: Levels of radioactive isotopes. Tells us: Environmental safety. Use: Herbs from radiation-exposed regions.