Ayurvedic medicines are used extensively for disease management across the world and maintenance of health. Because of the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, trace residues may be occasionally detected in medicinal plants and herbal formulations. This raises concerns regarding safety and their therapeutic performance. This review evaluates evidence which is published on occurrence of pesticide residue in Ayurvedic medicines, Ayurvedic perspective on safety and drug quality, Pesticide use and environmental exposure, sources of pesticide residues in herbal / ayurvedic medicines, regulatory limits and safety thresholds, trace residues vs therapeutic efficacy, impact of trace residues on therapeutic efficacy of ayurvedic medicines, comparison with food safety paradigm, discussion and future direction and conclusion are the points discussed. The studies indicate that residues are usually present at very low concentrations, which are often within internationally accepted maximum residue limits. At such levels, the risk of its toxicity is minimal and is not likely to influence the pharmacological action of herbal formulations. The review highlights the importance of good agricultural and manufacturing practices, quality control, and routine testing to ensure safety. Overall, current evidence suggests that trace pesticide residues, when within permissible limits, do not adversely affect the therapeutic efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines.
Dr. Amit Avalaskar *Dr. Poorva Joshi (Sun,) studied this question.