Medicinal Plants and Their Cultivation

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the methods for obtaining medicinal plants mentioned in the content?

Fermentation through traditional methods

Isolation of active compounds

Cultivation using organic pesticides

Collection from wild plants (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a step in the cultivation process of medicinal plants?

Harvesting

Drying

Packing

Fermentation (correct)

What factor does NOT affect the growth of medicinal plants?

Soil contents

Water

Presence of wildlife (correct)

Temperature

Which plant hormone is primarily responsible for increasing stem length?

Auxins Signup and view all the answers

Which benefit is associated with the cultivation of medicinal plants compared to collection from the wild?

Accessibility of trained workers Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of gibberellins in plant growth?

Inducing flowering early Signup and view all the answers

What is one key advantage of using controlled cultivation compared to wild collection?

Controlled purity of the product Signup and view all the answers

Which growth factor is classified as a growth regulator?

Genetics of the plant Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of curing vanilla pods?

To set free vanillin and alter aroma Signup and view all the answers

Why is careful drying of crude drugs essential?

It prevents enzymatic changes and deterioration. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of maintaining a low temperature during the drying process?

It helps preserve physical characters of the drug. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT listed as important in the drying process of crude drugs?

Humidity Signup and view all the answers

What changes occur in vanilla pods after curing?

Change in color and release of vanillin Signup and view all the answers

What factor does not affect the active constituents of a plant?

Plant species Signup and view all the answers

When should cloves be collected for maximum quality?

As flower buds Signup and view all the answers

Which organ of the plant is associated with the highest alkaloid content when collected in the morning?

Solanaceous leaves Signup and view all the answers

What is the ideal condition for collecting tea leaves to ensure the best quality?

At the bud stage Signup and view all the answers

During which season are colchicum corms rich in alkaloids?

Spring Signup and view all the answers

Why should leaves, flowers, and fruits be collected in dry weather?

To enhance color and prevent deterioration Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of a plant does the stage of maturity most significantly affect?

Total quantity and relative proportion of active constituents Signup and view all the answers

What is the best time to collect flowers for optimal quality?

At the time of pollination, before fruits form Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for collecting bark in spring or early summer?

Cambium activity makes the bark easier to strip. Signup and view all the answers

When should underground organs be ideally collected?

During autumn or winter after removing aerial parts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of decortication in drug preparation?

To remove outer layers with low active principle concentration. Signup and view all the answers

Why is bleaching used in the preparation of certain drugs?

To alter appearance and prevent insect attack. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cleaning process for underground organs primarily aimed at?

Freeing them from soil and rejection of diseased parts. Signup and view all the answers

What process involves inducing desirable changes in the drug through enzymatic action?

Curing. Signup and view all the answers

Which step is NOT included in the preparation of drugs before drying?

Packaging. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of collecting unorganized drugs during dry weather?

Increased stickiness and darkening in color. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sources of Medicinal Plants

Wild plants are a source.
Cultivated plants, including ginseng, ginkgo, and peppermint, are another source.
Fermentation, using recombinant DNA technology or genetically engineered drugs, is also a source.
Cell-culture techniques and microbial transformation are other sources.

Cultivation of Medicinal Plants

Wild plants are difficult to transport.
Wild plants are prone to eradication by natural events.
Cultivated plants offer a reliable and consistent supply.
Cultivation allows control of purity and prevents contamination.
Trained workers ensure proper harvesting and processing.

Factors Affecting Plant Growth

Environmental factors, including water, light, temperature, and altitude, influence growth.
Soil composition plays a crucial role.
Growth regulators like auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins regulate plant development.

Collection of Medicinal Plants

Proper collection is essential for high-quality drugs.
The active constituents may be concentrated in specific organs or tissues.
The time of year, time of day, and stage of maturity influence the concentration and composition of active constituents.

Collection Considerations: Time of Year

Rhubarb contains anthranols in winter and anthraquinones in summer.
Colchicum corms lack alkaloids in autumn and are rich in alkaloids in spring.

Collection Considerations: Time of Day

Digitalis leaves collected in the afternoon have a higher concentration of cardiac glycosides than those collected in the morning.
Solanaceous leaves contain higher levels of alkaloids in the morning than in the afternoon.

Collection Considerations: Stage of Maturity

The age of the plant influences the quantity and composition of active constituents.
Cloves should be collected as flower buds for maximum volatile oil content.
Solanaceous leaves are rich in alkaloids during the flowering stage.

General Rules for Drug Collection

Harvest drugs at the optimal stage of development.
Collect leaves, flowers, and fruits in dry weather to prevent deterioration.

Collection of Specific Plant Parts

Leaves are best collected at the beginning of the flowering stage in dry weather.
Flowers should be collected at the time of pollination, before fruit formation.
Fruits are harvested near the ripening season, when mature but not fully ripe.
Barks are typically collected in spring or early summer, when cambium is active and the bark is easily stripped.
Seeds are harvested when mature and ripe.
Underground organs (roots, rhizomes, bulbs, and corms) are collected in autumn or winter.
Unorganized drugs (resins, gums, latex) are collected in dry weather to prevent stickiness and darkening.

Preparation of Drugs Before Drying

Cleaning involves washing, cutting, and decortication.
Garbling is important for quality control.
Preparation steps include decortication, bleaching, and curing.

Cleaning of Collected Plants

Underground organs are freed from soil by shaking, brushing, or washing.
Diseased or insect-infested parts are discarded.
Large organs are sliced for easier drying.
Stalks are removed from leaves and fruits.

Decortication

The outer layers (cork and cortex) are removed.
This process is necessary because the outer layers might lack or have low levels of active principles or contain unwanted constituents.

Bleaching

Alters the appearance of drugs.
Prevents insect attack.
Examples include red algae (Carrageen) and ginger.

Curing

Induces desirable changes in the drug after collection and before drying.
Enzymatic action plays a crucial role.
Examples include tea leaves, where curing releases caffeine and oxidizes tannin.
Vanilla pods are cured to release vanillin.

Drying of Crude Drugs

Drying is essential to remove water from fresh tissue (up to 80%).
It preserves physical characteristics and chemical constituents of the drug.
It complies with pharmacopeia requirements regarding moisture content.
Drying time can vary significantly based on the drug.

Drying Benefits

Stops enzymatic activity that could alter active constituents.
Prevents deterioration during storage by inhibiting microbial growth.
Facilitates grinding into powdered form.
Reduces weight and bulk, improving packing and storage.

Drying Factors

Temperature: Use the lowest possible temperature to minimize degradation.
Time: Carry out drying as quickly as possible to maintain quality.

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Description

Explore the various sources of medicinal plants, including wild and cultivated varieties. Understand the key factors affecting plant growth and the importance of proper collection techniques for high-quality drugs. This quiz covers essential practices for cultivating medicinal plants.