Quality control methods for

Bibliography 
National and regional pharmacopoeias 
African Pharmacopoeia. Lagos, OAU/STRC Publications Division, Vol. l, 1985; 
Vol. 2, 1986. 
Arzneibuch der deutschen demokratischen Republik, AB-DDR 85, 1985, AB-DDR 87, 
1987 [disestablished]. 
British Pharmacopoeia. London, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1993; add. 1994, 
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Deutsches Arzneibuch. Stuttgart, Deutscher Apotheker Verlag, 1996. 
Egyptian Pharmacopoeia. Cairo, General Organization for Government Printing, 
1984. 
European Pharmacopoeia, 3rd ed. Strasbourg, Council of Europe, 1997 (Suppl. 
1998). 
Farmacopea Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, IX. Rome, Ministry of Health, 1985; 
suppl. 1988, 1991, 1994, 1996. 
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Pharmacopoea Helvetica, VIII. Bern, Departement federal de l'Interieur, 1997. 
Pharmacopoea Hungarica, VII. Budapest, Medicina Konyvkiado, 1986. 
Pharmacopoeia of India, III. Delhi, Controller of Publications, 1996. 
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MD, United States Pharmacopeial Convention, 1995 (Suppl. 1-3, 1995; Suppl. 4 & 
5, 1996; Suppl. 6 & 7, 1997). 
Other publications 
International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for pharmaceutical substances. Lists 1-73 of 
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Health Organization, 1997 (unpublished document WHO/FSF/FOS/97.7; 

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Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials 
available from Programme of Food Safety and Food Aid, World Health 
Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland). 
Manuals of food quality control. 2. Additives, contaminants, techniques. Rome, Food 
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1980 (FAO Food and 
Nutrition Paper 14/2). 
Deutscher Arzneimittel-Codex. Stuttgart, Deutscher Apotheker Verlag, 1986. 
Schilcher H, Peters H, Wank H. Pestizide and Schwermetalle in Arzneipflanzen 
and Arzneipflanzenzubereitungen. [Pesticides and heavy metals in medicinal 
plants and medicinal plant preparations.] Die pharmazeutische Industrie, 1987, 49: 
203-211. 

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Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials 
SELECTED WHO PUBLICATIONS OF RELATED INTEREST 
Prices in Swiss francs* 
Research guidelines for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines 
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific 1993 (v + 86 pages) 7.50 
Basic tests for drugs: pharmaceutical substances, medicinal plant materials 
and dosage forms 1998 (iii + 91 pages) 26.- 
Basic tests for pharmaceutical dosage forms 1991 (v + 129 pages) 24.- 
Basic tests for pharmaceutical substances 1986 (205 pages) 34.- 
The international pharmacopoeia, third edition Volume I : general methods 
of analysis. 1979 (223 pages) 24.-Volume 2: quality specifications. 1981 (342 
pages) 36.-Volume 3: quality specifications. 1988 (407 pages) 64.- 
Volume 4: tests, methods, and general requirements; quality specifications for 
pharmaceutical substances, excipients and dosage forms. 1994 (358 pages) 
85.- 
Medicinal plants in China WHO Regional Publications,Western Pacific Series, 
No. 2 1989 (327 pages, 151 colour plates) 50.- 
Medicinal plants in Viet Nam WHO Regional Publications,Western Pacific 
Series, No. 3 1990 (410 pages, 200 colour plates) 45.- 
Quality assurance of pharmaceuticals: a compendium of guidelines and 
related materials, Vol. 1 1997 (vi + 238 pages) 50.- 
WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations 
Thirty-fourth report WHO Technical Report Series, No. 863 1996 (vi + 194 
pages) 35.- 
Further information on these and otherWHO publications can be obtained 
from Marketing and Dissemination,World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 
27, Switzerland 
*Prices in developing countries are 70% of those listed here. 

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Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials 
Medicinal plants and their products are used worldwide as home remedies, 
over-the-counter preparations and raw materials for the pharmaceutical 
industry. They now account for a substantial proportion of the global drug 
market, and increasing attention is therefore being paid to assurance of their 
quality, safety and efficacy. 
This book has been prepared in response to the need for international 
harmonization in quality control testing of medicinal plant materials. 
It provides step-by-step, descriptions of recommended test methods for 
identity, purity and content, together with a detailed list of the necessary 
reagents and solutions. The tests have been selected to fulfil the needs of 
quality control laboratories and to provide a basis for the `development of 
national standards. 
As a practical manual presenting widely applicable methods, the book will be 
a useful tool for national drug regulatory authorities, the pharmaceutical 
industry and pharmacists working with medicinal plant materials 
throughout the world. 
Price: Sw. fr. 35. 
-Price in developing countries: Sw. fr. 24.50
ISBN 92 4 154510 0 

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