**8. Scientific practices**

Unlike conventional Allopathic and Homeopathic drugs that are usually prepared from synthetic, chemically pure materials by means of reproducible manufacturing techniques and procedures, ASU drugs may vary in composition and properties a lot [31]. Thus, in case of ASU drugs also, it is a prerequisite to ensure the reproducibility of batches of medicines by its correct identification and quality assurance so that its safety and efficacy can be maintained [32, 33]. Adulteration, substitution, counterfeiting and usage of inferior quality of drugs often result in degradation of clinical effects of ASU drugs. This makes authentication a crucial step in successful and reliable applications. In cases where there is availability of similar looking drugs or drugs of same chemical nature, authentication becomes more crucial to avoid even any chance adulteration with other varieties of drug. Using a wrong drug may result in worsening the condition or may act as antagonist [34]. Evaluation has become even more difficult when several different individual species were powdered and mixed together in a proprietary medicine [35]. It is also important to take care of each step of harvest, storage, processing and formulation because it has a huge impact on the final quality of the product. Thus, to ensure the optimal safety and efficacy of these products, quality assurance in manufacturing and storage is a must. Also, these control measures are critical for the pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of the ASU drugs. Authentication of ASU drugs involve following techniques:
