Standardization of drugs means confirmation of its identity and determination of its quality and purity. In the current clinical practice, Medicinal plants has became the richest bio-resource of drugs for traditional systems of medicine, modern medicines, nutraceuticals, food supplements, folk medicines, pharmaceutical intermediates and chemical entities for synthetic drugs. In view of the increasing needs of the population, shortage of authentic raw material, present trends of commercialisation and the preparation, marketing of Ayurvedic medicines has led to adulteration. Due to urbanisation and busy life-style even the patient has become more sophisticated and started showing inclination to purchase and to obtain drugs from the manufacturer instead of obtaining it from his own physician. Also substitution of genuine herbs with cheap, spurious drugs resulting in dumping of market with sub-standard and inferior quality drugs. In Ayurvedic drug preparations it is estimated that about 1000 single drugs and around 8000 compound formulations of recognized merit are in vogue. Efficacy of any medicine depends on its genuineness. Ayurvedic treatments are getting disrepute in many instances because of substandard drugs. A multi-dimensional approach is the only possible solution for that by this drug standardization. Hence, standardization of drugs placed a great demand in the field of Ayurveda. In this present review, an attempt has been made to give an overview of certain Standarization methods.
