Biotechnology and Nutritional Sources Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does pharmacognosy primarily study?

Pharmaceutical regulations and policies

Synthetic production of pharmaceuticals

Drug interactions within the body

Medicines from natural resources (correct)

What is the primary purpose of a pharmacopoeia?

To list official drugs with descriptions and requirements (correct)

To offer a platform for drug advertisements

To provide recipes for drug production

To compile consumer opinions on medicines

Which of the following is considered a crude drug derived from the entire plant?

Lobelia (correct)

Chamomile flower

Liquorice root

Senna leaf

What is the geographical source for Cannabis sativa?

India Signup and view all the answers

Which plant is indicated as having a purgative effect?

Ipomea purga Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following antibiotics is produced by Actinomycetes?

Chloramphenicol Signup and view all the answers

What is musk primarily obtained from?

Male deer Signup and view all the answers

What is a major disadvantage of collecting wild plants for medicinal use?

Insufficient market supply Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following indicates the poisonous character of Atropa belladonna?

Inflexibility Signup and view all the answers

What is beeswax primarily produced for?

Making cosmetics and skin protectants Signup and view all the answers

What impact does temperature have on the growth of Cannabis sativa?

Height increases in warm climates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a pharmacopoeia?

British Pharmacopoeia Signup and view all the answers

Cod liver oil is derived from which marine organisms?

Cod fish Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of cultivating medicinal plants near a pharmaceutical factory?

Saves effort and cost Signup and view all the answers

Which treatment method can increase the alkaloidal content in crops?

Soaking seeds in diluted sulfuric acid Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'naturalized plants' refer to?

Plants grown in foreign lands Signup and view all the answers

Which compound is isolated from the sponge Tethya crypta and has antiviral properties?

Vidarabine Signup and view all the answers

What is a common use for talc in cosmetic products?

To keep skin dry and prevent rashes Signup and view all the answers

What does the specific name in botanical nomenclature often indicate?

A striking characteristic or property of the plant Signup and view all the answers

Which plant is indicated by the specific name 'nigrum', referring to the color of its fruit?

Piper nigrum Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a method used to cultivate plant cells for producing plant compounds in bulk?

Tissue culture Signup and view all the answers

The term 'fragrans' in Myristica fragrans describes which characteristic of the plant?

Its strong aroma Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following plants is known for its purple flowers as indicated by the specific name 'purpurea'?

Digitalis purpurea Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of kaolin in industries?

As a food additive Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Omega 3 and Vitamins

Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D are found in cod liver oil
Cod liver oil is used to treat inflammation, arthritis, and atherosclerosis
Cod liver oil improves cognitive performance

Ara-A and its Source

Ara-A (vidarabine) is an antiviral drug isolated from the sponge Tethya crypta

Mineral Sources

Kaolin is mined from the surface of stones, clay, and sand
Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, and in toothpaste
Talc is mined from the earth
Talc is used to keep skin dry, prevent rashes, and in cosmetic products such as baby powder, adult body powder, and facial powders

Biotechnology: Tissue Culture

Tissue culture is the cultivation of plant cells, tissues, or organs on specially formulated nutrient media
Under the right conditions, an entire plant can be regenerated from a single cell
By using tissue culture techniques, required plant compounds and metabolites can be produced in bulk quantities

Botanical Nomenclature: Binomial System

The binomial system names organisms using two words, the genus and the species
The genus name is always capitalized, while the species name starts with a lowercase letter
Example: Cinchona ledgeriana
The specific name may indicate a striking characteristic of the plant, a characteristic color, an aromatic quality, pharmaceutical activity, a general meaning or special indication, or the geographical source of the plant

Examples of Botanical Nomenclature

Glycyrrhiza glabra
- glabra means smooth, referring to the smooth fruit of the plant
Atropa belladonna
- bella means beautiful and donna means lady, referring to the mydriatic effect the plant has on the pupils of the eyes
Hyoscyamus muticus
- muticus means short, referring to the short height of the plant
Piper nigrum
- nigrum means black, referring to the black color of the fruit
Digitalis purpurea
- purpurea means purple, referring to the purple color of the flower
Myristica fragrans
- fragrans means nice aroma, referring to the aroma of the plant
Caryophyllus aromaticus
- aromaticus means characteristic aroma, referring to the aroma of the plant

Pharmacognosy

Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural resources, including plants, animals, and microorganisms
The word Pharmacognosy comes from the Greek words pharmakon (drug) and gnosis (knowledge)
Active constituents are compounds responsible for the therapeutic effects of drugs
Crude drugs are derived from plant, animal, and mineral origin before undergoing extensive processing or modification

Pharmacopoeia

The pharmacopoeia is a governmental publication that contains a listing of all the official drugs with their descriptions and requirements that make them suitable for use by humans
A drug listed in the pharmacopoeia is considered official
A drug not listed in the pharmacopoeia is considered unofficial
Examples of pharmacopoeias
- British Pharmacopoeia (B.P.)
- United States Pharmacopoeia (U.S.P.)
- Egyptian Pharmacopoeia (E.P.)
  - The first E.P. was published in 1953 in English and again in 1961 in Arabic

Plant Crude Drugs

Crude drugs can be derived from the entire plant or an organ of the plant
Examples of crude drugs from the entire plant
- Lobelia
- Mentha
Examples of crude drugs from an organ of the plant
- Senna leaf
- Chamomile flower
- Liquorice root

Animal Crude Drugs

Musk is a substance with a persistent odor obtained from an exocrine gland of the male deer
Musk is used in medicine, particularly related to nerve problems
Musk is also used in manufacturing fragrances and perfumes
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees
Beeswax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees
Beeswax is used in cosmetics as a protective layer on the skin and as a natural exfoliant

Microbial Crude Drugs

Antibiotics are produced by a group of microorganisms known as Actinomycetes
Actinomycetes yield antibiotics such as actinomycin, amphotericin, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin

Marine Crude Drugs

Cod liver oil is obtained from the livers of codfishes
Atlantic cod and Pacific cod are the most commonly used to make cod liver oil

Geographical Sources of Drugs

Indigenous plants grow in their native habitats or countries
Example: Hyoscyamus muticus is indigenous to Egypt
Example: Cannabis sativa is indigenous to India
Naturalized plants grow in a foreign land or in a locality other than their natural home
Exotic plants are also plants that grow in a foreign land or in a locality other than their natural home

Cannabis Sativa

Cannabis sativa grown in a warm tropical climate can grow to a height of 15 meters
Cannabis sativa grown in a cool climate can grow to a height of 1 meter
Cannabis grown in a warm climate is rich in psychoactive material
Cannabis grown in a cold climate contains no psychoactive material

Disadvantages of Collecting Wild Plants for Medicinal Use

Wild plants are distributed over unlimited areas, making collection difficult
Wild plants may be difficult to transport if they are growing in deserts or forests
Continuous collection of wild plants can lead to extinction of the plant
Collection of wild plants can lead to adulteration due to the ignorance of collectors
The amount of wild plants collected may be insufficient to meet market demand

Advantages of Cultivating Medicinal Plants

Cultivating medicinal plants provides a large accessible area of the crop
Cultivating medicinal plants allows for improvements to the drug by controlling certain factors in cultivation, such as:
- Treating seeds before sowing to ensure germination
  - Hyoscyamus seeds are soaked in diluted sulphuric acid to fasten germination and their treatment with colchicine increases the alkaloidal content of the crop
- Using fertilizers to provide essential elements for plant nutrition
  - Fertilizers that contain N, K, and P increase the active constituents of the plants
- Controlling insect infestation
Cultivating medicinal plants provides a regular and sufficient supply
Cultivating medicinal plants ensures that collection, drying, and storage are performed by skilled individuals
Cultivating medicinal plants can be done near pharmaceutical factories, saving effort and cost

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Description

Test your knowledge on the nutritional benefits of Omega 3, vitamins, mineral sources, and the application of biotechnology in tissue culture. This quiz covers essential topics related to health and plant biology, including their sources and uses in various fields. Dive into the fascinating world of nutrition and biotechnology!