Medicinal Plant Classification and Pharmacognosy

Botany

• The scientific study of plant life.
• Plants are classified as medicinal plants when they have a therapeutic or curative effect.
• Medicinal plants may also be called herbal medicinal plants, herbal remedies, herbal drugs, or herbs.

Pharmacognosy

• The study of natural substances, mainly plants, that have medicinal uses.
• The word "Pharmacognosy" comes from the Greek words "pharmacon" (drug) and "gnosis" (knowledge).
• Pharmacognosy studies the scientific basis for the use of plants in pharmacy.

Crude Drugs

• Plant or animal material before extensive processing or modification.
• Crude drugs are used as therapeutic agents.
• Can be derived from plants, animals, or minerals.

Medicinal Plant Classification

• Different classification methods make studying medicinal plants easier.
• Classification methods include alphabetical, taxonomical, morphological, chemical, and pharmacological.

Alphabetical

• Medicinal plants are arranged based on their Latin or English names.
• Used for dictionaries, pharmacopoeias, etc.

Taxonomical

• Medicinal plants are arranged according to accepted botanical classification systems.
• Plants are classified into classes, orders, families, genera, and species.

Morphological

• Organized drugs: Medicinal plants are divided based on plant organs like leaves, flowers, herbs, roots, fruits, and seeds.
• Unorganized drugs: Include plant products like dried latex, extracts, gums, resins, oils, and waxes.

Chemical

• Medicinal plants are arranged based on their main active constituents, such as alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and volatile oils.

Pharmacological or Therapeutical

• Herbal drugs are classified based on their therapeutic uses.
• Examples include drugs affecting the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidney, and nervous system.

Origin of Drugs

• Biological origin: The plant or animal from which the drug is obtained.
• Indicates the plant name and family.
• Binomial system: Devised by Linnaeus to give each plant a two-word name.
  • The first word is the genus name (capitalized).
  • The second word is the species name (lowercase).
• Example: Atropa belladonna, Fam.Solanaceae
• Commercial origin: Refers to the source from which the drug is commercially obtained, like a particular country or region.
• Geographical origin: The region where the plant grows.
  • Indigenous: Plants growing in their native countries.
  • Exotic: Plants growing in a country other than their native home.
  • Climate impacts active constituents.

Official and Unofficial Drugs

• Official drugs: Listed in government-recognized books like the Egyptian Pharmacopeia.
• Unofficial drugs: Not listed in government-recognized books.
• Pharmacopoeia: A government book containing official drug listings, effects, and directions for use.
• Drugs not listed in the pharmacopoeia are considered unofficial.