1

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background
Herbal medicine is Indonesian traditional medicine used for centuries
and has been proven to be effective. The use of herbal medicine in
Indonesia is supported by the countrys natural potential as biodiversuty in
medicinal plants. Minister of Health stated in the report that Indonesia has
approximately 7,000 medicinal plant species, 1,000 of which have been
used for the treatment and overcome helath problems. Herbal medicine has
been widely known and familiar to the public as evidence of data Riskesdas
2010 stated that of the opulation in the 33 provinces, with approximately
70,000 households and 315,000 individuals, nationally 59.29% of the
Indonesian population had a drink as much as 93.76% herbal.1,2
The more widespread use of traditional medicine based on hereditary
properties further expand the opportunities for fraud even some herbal into
the traditional medicinal products. The lack of implementation of standards
to ensure quality, benefits, and security, lack of access to data on traditional
medicine quality, safe, and efficacy, as well as the lack of information
regarding the rational use of traditional medicine is herbal medicine
challenges to Indonesia. Therefore, it is necessary to the analysis of herbal
preparations on the market which include physical, chemical, and biological
analysis in order to protect the public from the circulation of traditional
medicine that contains false botanicals.

1.2. Problem
1.

How is quality testing of herbal medicine?

1.3. Objective
This paper is intended to get good quality of herbal medicine.

CHAPTER 2
DISCUSSION

2.1. Quality Testing of Herbal Medicine

Analysis of herbal medicine are grouped into three types of analysis:
1.

Physical Analysis
Macroscopic testing; i.e. organoleptics testing, shape, size, outer
appearance, color, and taste of herbs.
Microscopic testing, i.e. testing performed using microscope with
magnification level as needed. Herbs tested by transverse, radial,
longitudinal or paradermal incision. To determine the type of herbs
based on spesific fragment identifier.

2.

Chemical Analysis
Phytochemical screening was a qualitative analysis of chemical
constituents of herbs. Screening can be done by the method of TLC
(thin layer chromatography).
Quantitative testing to determine the amount of content in the
tested herbs. Determination of water content to determine a maximum
limit on the amount or range of water content in herbs to avoid fungal
contamination. Water content is considered to be safe if less than 10%.
Determination of ash content is done to provide an overview of the
internal and external mineral content (metal contamination) derived
from the initial process to obtain of simplicia.

3.

Biological Analysis
Testing the potential of herbs to health problems. This test is
usually done to determine the effect of pre clinic with an herb to a
disease.
Toxicity testing conducted to determine the herbs used large
doses can cause poisoning.
Microbial contamination testing, i.e. aflatoxin testing, total plate
count test, number of test mold, most probably number (MPN).
Aflatoxin testing to determine the contamination produced by the
Aspergillus flavus fungus. Total plate count testing to determine the
number of microbes/ bacteria in the sample (total plate count limitation
set by the Department of Health which is 106 CFU/ gram). Number of
test mold to determine the total plate count of mold (total plate count
limitation set by the Department of Health which is 104 CFU/ gram).
Most probably number (MPN) to determine how much contamination
of coliform bacteria (bacteria that live in the digestive tract).

CHAPTER 3
CONCLUSION

Quality control of herbal medicine were obtained by performing a test in

physics, chemistry, and biology to obtain a high quality of herbal medicine.