Drug Adulteration and Its Types

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is an example of a harmful adulterant in drugs?

Benzyl benzoate in balsam of Peru

Compressed chicory powder in coffee

Lead shot in opium (correct)

Used tea leaves with ginger

What type of substitution involves using materials that have already lost their medicinal value?

Substitution of exhausted drugs (correct)

Substitution with harmful adulterants

Substitution of vegetative matter from the same plant

Substitution with synthetic chemicals

Which method involves mixing similar plant materials that may look alike?

Substitution of exhausted drugs

Substitution with synthetic chemicals

Substitution of vegetative matter from the same plant (correct)

Substitution with harmful adulterants

Which of the following drugs is typically adulterated with pieces of amber-coloured glass?

Colophony Signup and view all the answers

What is a common true adulterant found in coconut oil?

Paraffin Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following substitutions enhances the natural character of a drug?

Substitution with synthetic chemicals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of substituting vegetative matter from the same plant?

Moss mixed with Cascara Signup and view all the answers

Which commonly found adulterant is often mixed with cardamom seeds?

Rodent faecal matter Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of adulteration?

To deceive and earn more money Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the accidental occurrence of drug adulteration?

Undeliberate adulteration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a condition leading to adulteration?

Manufacturing Signup and view all the answers

Which method of adulteration involves the direct replacement of the original substance?

Substitution Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'purity' refer to in drug evaluation?

The foreign materials present in the drug. Signup and view all the answers

Faulty collection and its impact on drug quality are examples of which type of adulteration?

Accidental adulteration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples illustrates the adulteration of a crude drug?

Ipecacuanha is mixed with dextrin. Signup and view all the answers

What defines deterioration in the context of drug adulteration?

A loss in the quality of the drug Signup and view all the answers

What type of adulteration is characterized by the intentional addition of ingredients to change the drug's composition?

Sophistication Signup and view all the answers

Why is the evaluation of a crude drug necessary?

To identify biochemical variations and adulteration. Signup and view all the answers

Which category includes substances that are non-plant materials used in drug adulteration?

Synthetic chemicals Signup and view all the answers

Which method is primarily used for organoleptic evaluation of drugs?

Senses like taste and smell. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of a drug does 'identity' assess?

The correct identification of its biological source. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common method used for observing morphological characters of drugs?

Employing a magnifying lens. Signup and view all the answers

Which adulterant is identified with chilli powder?

Red sandalwood. Signup and view all the answers

What type of evaluation reveals biochemical variations in drugs?

Morphological evaluation. Signup and view all the answers

What type of substitution involves products that closely resemble the original drug but are cheaper?

Substitution with substandard commercial varieties Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of substitution with superficially similar inferior drugs?

Black pepper with papaya seeds Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of drugs substituted with artificially manufactured substances?

They are designed to mimic the original drugs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following pairs shows a correct example of substitution with inferior drugs?

Coffee powder with tamarind seed powder Signup and view all the answers

Which substance is incorrectly paired with its adulterant?

Ginger with Cochin ginger Signup and view all the answers

What type of substitution is marked by the use of inferior drugs of no medicinal value?

Substitution with superficially similar inferior drugs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common practice of adulteration?

Substituting genuine herbal products with cheaper alternatives Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical motivation behind using substandard commercial varieties?

To reduce production costs Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Drug Adulteration and Types

Adulteration is substituting a crude drug with similar-looking, inferior, useless, or harmful substances.
The primary motive is financial gain (cheating).
Adulteration can be deliberate (intentional) or accidental (unintentional).

Undeliberate Adulteration

Faulty collection: Using inappropriate seasons or stages (e.g., collecting leaves during the wrong season) for plant collection can affect the drug's quality.
Imperfect preparation: Incorrect harvesting methods or collection of the wrong parts of plants can lead to adulteration.
Confusion of plant names: Similar-looking plants can be mistaken for one another during collection, resulting in adulteration.
Incorrect storage/transportation: Poor preservation or handling during transportation or storage introduces impurities.

Deliberate Adulteration

Deliberate adulteration is the intentional substitution of one substance for another.
This can manifest in various ways, including:
- Deterioration: Impairment of drug quality.
- Admixture: Combining substances unknowingly or unintentionally.
- Sophistication: Adding a substance to improve the appearance or perceived quality.
- Substitution: Replacing the original drug with a different one.
- Inferiority: Using a less potent or genuine substance with similar appearance.
- Spoilage: Degradation of the drug due to microorganism activity.

Types of Adulterants

Substandard Commercial Varieties: Using cheaper alternatives that resemble the genuine drug visually. Examples: substitutes for pepper, coffee, leaves, etc.
Inferior Drugs: Using less potent substitutes.
Artificially Manufactured Substances: Replacing the original drug with synthetic chemicals, often visually identical. Examples: using paraffin wax.
Exhausted Drugs: Using a drug from which the active compounds have already been extracted.
Vegetative Matter: Using parts of plants that don't contain the active compounds found in the main part.
Non-Plant Materials: Using foreign materials to imitate the original drug.
Synthetic Chemicals: Using chemically similar products, often cheaper, to mimic the original substance.

Methods of Drug Evaluation

Evaluation of Drugs: Involves proper identification, determining quality, and checking purity.
Identity: Correct identification of the source (plant or animal) of the drug.
Quality: Determining the quantity of active ingredients.
Purity: Assessing the presence of foreign materials or impurities.
Evaluation Details: This includes analyzing biochemical variations, damage from storage, and presence of adulterated substances.

Morphological (Organoleptic) Methods

Identifying a drug by using senses (smell, taste, color, texture, etc.).
External features and morphology for identification.
Specific examination based on parts of the plant. (e.g., stems, bark, roots).

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Description

This quiz explores the concept of drug adulteration, distinguishing between deliberate and undeliberate forms. It discusses causes such as faulty collection, imperfect preparation, and the confusion of plant names. Test your understanding of how these factors affect the quality and integrity of drugs.