Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Accurate identification of medicinal drugs is foundational to the safety and efficacy of Ayurvedic therapeutics. Classical Indian texts (Charaka, Suśruta, Nighantu literature) emphasized knowledge of a drug’s origin, season, habitat and organoleptic features, but short textual descriptions relied heavily on field training and oral traditions. Over centuries, lexicons and commentators (Bhāvaprakāsha, Bhaishajya Ratnavali) augmented these guidelines, while modern pharmacognosy has introduced objective morphological, microscopic and chemical analyses. Contemporary quality assurance integrates organoleptic and macroscopic examination with microscopy, physicochemical assays, chromatographic fingerprinting and molecular methods (DNA barcoding), together with Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). This review traces historical perspectives, summarizes classical and modern identification parameters, examines current analytical tools and regulatory frameworks, and highlights challenges—vernacular ambiguity, adulteration, and loss of habitat. Strengthening practitioner training, adopting orthogonal authentication strategies and enforcing GACP/GMP will improve raw-drug reliability and preserve traditional knowledge within evidence-based practice.