Fake Zarishka or Indian barberry (Berberis aristata - dried fruit) crossing limit of adulteration ...

As we know that the preparation of medicines as per the formulae quoted in various Pharmacopoeias (viz. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia, The Siddha Pharmacopoeia, and The Unani Pharmacopoeia) and also the invention of various new proprietary medicines is increasing day by day to treat the patient by the AYUSH traditional medicines. The research is taking place in one way to upgrade the quality of medicines and in another way, the up-gradation in adulteration and substitution also becomes a top-ranked business. 

Nowadays, the common adulteration can be seen in many raw drugs but the majority of adulteration being made in the drugs which are obtained from root, fruits, and seeds. Now, adulteration and substitution seem to be old fashion and practice is being made to launch the artificial and duplicate or fake products in the market to run the business and earn the money.

The dried fruits of Zarishka in the open and online market is the best example. The Zarishka is actually the dried fruit of Berberis aristata belongs to the family Berberidaceae. Morphologically, the original dried Zarishika fruits look blue-black color, 10 to 12 mm long, and 5 to 8 mm thick; ovoid, the outer surface shows wrinkles when dried. Each fruit consists of 3 seeds about 6 mm long and 2 to 3 mm thick, ovoid, and somewhat flattened with odor-characteristic and taste - slightly bitter. (Please see Image -1)

[Image-1 Orginal dried fruit of Zarishka ]

I was very much surprised when I saw fake Zarishka in the market being sold with the same price of original Zarishka (the dried fruits of Berberis aristata) Morphologically, the so-called Zarishka has similar resemblances with black and a small variety of currants (Kismis). The characteristic feature of the drug was supporting California Currants. This is also called Zante Currants, Corinth raisins, Corinthian raisins, or simply currants. It is actually the dried berries of the small sweet, seedless grape Cultivar black Corinth. The name comes from the Anglo-French Phrase "raisins de Corinthe" and the Ionian Island of the Zakynthos (Zante). Please see Image -2. 

 [Image - 2 Fake dried fruit of Zarishka]

Using sub-standard quality or fake raw drugs as ingredients would not cure the disease due to lack of required therapeutic action of the drugs but destroy the fame of the Traditional System of Medicines.  The Zarishika is mainly used in India in many preparations of the medicines especially in the Unani System of the medicines, the Vaidya or Haqim and Doctors, Pharmacist, etc. should be very careful in the selection of ingredient and to avoid such fake drugs as we know that the priority in the selection of original and authentic drugs gives effective medicines that only cure the patients and solve our purpose.