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Questions and Answers
What is one of the methods for obtaining medicinal plants mentioned in the content?
Which of the following is NOT a step in the cultivation process of medicinal plants?
What factor does NOT affect the growth of medicinal plants?
Which plant hormone is primarily responsible for increasing stem length?
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Which benefit is associated with the cultivation of medicinal plants compared to collection from the wild?
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What is the primary role of gibberellins in plant growth?
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What is one key advantage of using controlled cultivation compared to wild collection?
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Which growth factor is classified as a growth regulator?
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What is the primary purpose of curing vanilla pods?
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Why is careful drying of crude drugs essential?
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What is the significance of maintaining a low temperature during the drying process?
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Which factor is NOT listed as important in the drying process of crude drugs?
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What changes occur in vanilla pods after curing?
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What factor does not affect the active constituents of a plant?
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When should cloves be collected for maximum quality?
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Which organ of the plant is associated with the highest alkaloid content when collected in the morning?
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What is the ideal condition for collecting tea leaves to ensure the best quality?
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During which season are colchicum corms rich in alkaloids?
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Why should leaves, flowers, and fruits be collected in dry weather?
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What aspect of a plant does the stage of maturity most significantly affect?
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What is the best time to collect flowers for optimal quality?
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What is the primary reason for collecting bark in spring or early summer?
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When should underground organs be ideally collected?
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What is the main purpose of decortication in drug preparation?
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Why is bleaching used in the preparation of certain drugs?
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What is the cleaning process for underground organs primarily aimed at?
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What process involves inducing desirable changes in the drug through enzymatic action?
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Which step is NOT included in the preparation of drugs before drying?
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What is the consequence of collecting unorganized drugs during dry weather?
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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.
