The Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences (AJPSci) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of academic and scientific integrity. Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is considered a serious ethical violation. It involves the unauthorized use or close imitation of another person’s language, ideas, concepts, data, or expressions, and presenting them as one’s own without proper acknowledgment or permission. This applies to content copied from both published and unpublished sources, including manuscripts, grant applications, institutional review board (IRB) submissions, and other academic or scientific documents. Plagiarism is a growing concern in scientific publishing and can significantly undermine the credibility and trust of scholarly literature.
In addition to traditional plagiarism, AJPSci also recognizes self-plagiarism as an ethical concern. Self-plagiarism occurs when an author reuses their previously published content either verbatim or with minor modifications across multiple manuscripts without appropriate citation or disclosure. Although self-plagiarism does not involve stealing others' work, it may breach copyright agreements and can mislead readers regarding the originality of the research. Authors may sometimes unknowingly repeat their own work in similar language, especially when discussing standard concepts. Nonetheless, the journal advises all authors to avoid self-plagiarism by properly referencing earlier publications, even when reusing their own ideas.
AJPSci identifies and acts against various forms of plagiarism, including direct plagiarism (copying text word-for-word without quotation or citation), and mosaic plagiarism (borrowing phrases or ideas from a source without adequate citation, even if paraphrased). These practices are unacceptable, as they compromise the originality and credibility of the work.
To detect and prevent plagiarism, AJPSci uses various advanced plagiarism detection tools such as Plagiarism CheckerX, Turnitin, and other reliable software during the editorial assessment stage. In addition, the editorial team may conduct manual reviews if any content appears suspicious. Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools themselves before submission to ensure their manuscript is original and properly cited.
If plagiarism is identified, AJPSci takes action based on the severity of the misconduct. In cases of minor plagiarism, such as the omission of citations or short unoriginal phrases, the authors will be notified and asked to revise the manuscript with proper attribution. The manuscript may continue through the editorial process only after these corrections are made. However, in cases of major plagiarism, where substantial portions of the text, ideas, or data have been copied from other sources without acknowledgment, the manuscript will be immediately rejected. The authors will be informed of the decision, and a formal notice may be sent to their affiliated institutions. In serious cases, authors found guilty of plagiarism may be barred from submitting to AJPSci for a minimum period of six months.
If a case of plagiarism is discovered in a published article, the journal will initiate an investigation, and upon confirmation, the article will be retracted. A retraction notice will be published online, and the retracted article will be clearly marked to maintain transparency and protect the scientific record. AJPSci encourages readers, authors, or reviewers to report any suspected instances of plagiarism. Complaints must be accompanied by evidence, such as the original and the suspected plagiarized work. Upon receipt, the editorial team will thoroughly investigate the matter.
In all cases, the final decision on plagiarism-related issues rests with the editor-in-chief, in consultation with the editorial board. Where necessary, the author’s institution may be contacted for further investigation or disciplinary action. All procedures and decisions will be handled confidentially, ethically, and fairly.
AJPSci adheres to the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines in all matters concerning publication misconduct, including plagiarism. We remain committed to ensuring that all manuscripts published in the journal are original, properly cited, and contribute meaningfully to the scientific community.