The study reports the qualitative degradation of raw materials of Andrographis paniculata during storage
due to fungal and aflatoxin contamination and its control by essential oils (EOs) of Caesulia axillaris,
Cymbopogon khasans and Cymbopogon martinii. The finger print profile of the herbal raw materials
through high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) revealed the significant degradation of
andrographolide content (the major active component) due to fungal and aflatoxin contamination. The
three EOs showed potent preservative effects during fumigation in storage containers providing 71.93%,
93.86% and 88.60% protection of herbal raw materials respectively from fungal contamination