Medicinal Plants PHG 1101 Lecture 4

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Questions and Answers

Match the following terms with their descriptions:

Glycosides = Compounds that yield sugars on hydrolysis Emesis = The act of vomiting Oxidation = A chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons Storage = The process of maintaining a substance over time

Match the following effects with their causes:

Vomiting = Reduced form of glycosides Loss of side effect = Oxidation of glycosides Chemical reaction = Involvement of electrons Time-dependent change = Storage of compounds

Match the following processes with their outcomes:

Reduced glycosides = Triggers emesis Storage = Facilitates oxidation Oxidation = Eliminates vomiting effect Hydrolysis = Releases sugars

Match the following terms with their primary functions:

Glycosides = Cause emesis during initial usage Emesis = Reacts to reduced glycosides Oxidation = Changes glycoside properties over time Time = Affects chemical stability of substances Signup and view all the answers

Match the following concepts with their related factors:

Glycosides = Presence of sugars Emesis = Physiological response Oxidation = Chemical alteration Storage = Environmental conditions Signup and view all the answers

Match the following biological factors with their characteristics:

Bacteria = Microscopic organisms that can cause decay Moulds = Fungi that thrive in damp environments Worms = Multicellular parasites often found in soil Insects and rodents = Pests that can contaminate food supplies Signup and view all the answers

Match the following moisture-related effects with their corresponding drugs:

Digitalis = Activated by moisture leading to hydrolysis Amoxicillin = Degraded by high humidity conditions Insulin = Sensitive to temperature and moisture Aspirin = Hydrolyzed in the presence of moisture Signup and view all the answers

Match the following categories of biological factors with the examples:

Bacteria = E. coli Moulds = Aspergillus Worms = Roundworms Insects and rodents = House mice Signup and view all the answers

Match the following factors influencing drug stability with their descriptions:

Moisture = Can lead to the activation of enzymes Temperature = Affects the reaction rates of drugs Light = Can cause degradation of sensitive compounds Oxygen = Can lead to oxidative reactions in drugs Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of moulds with their potential effects:

Black mould = Can cause respiratory issues Bread mould = Commonly found on food items Penicillium = Used in antibiotic production Fusarium = Can produce harmful mycotoxins Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medicinal Plants PHG 1101 Lecture 4

Preparation of Drugs from Plants to Pharmaceuticals
- Cultivation (زراعة)
- Collection (حصاد)
- Drying (تجفيف)
- Packing (تغليف)
- Storage (تخزين)

Packing of Drugs

Factors to consider during packing:
- Morphological and chemical nature of the drug
- Climatic conditions during transport
- Storage conditions
Types of packing:
- Loose packing
- Packing with pressure
Importance of packing:
- Protect the drug sample
- Economical use of space
Packing of different plant parts:
- Leaves are baled into a compact mass
- Seeds, fruits, rhizomes, and roots are packed in burlap bags
- Cinnamon bark is packed in quills to facilitate transport and prevent oil volatilization
Special packing considerations:
- Moisture-sensitive drugs (e.g., Digitalis) are packed in moisture-proof containers
- Volatile oils are shipped in enamelled cans
- Gums and resins are shipped in barrels or cans
Examples of effects of packing on appearance:
- Indian senna leaves are packed into large bales with hydraulic pressure, creating a flatter appearance with oblique lines
- Alexandrian senna leaves are packed loosely

Indication for Geographical source

Opium is the dried latex from unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum L.
- Collected by incising the capsules using instruments
- Turkish opium appears in sub-cylindrical cakes coated with powdered poppy leaves
- Indian opium is imported in 5 kg blocks, wrapped in two sheets of thin grease-proof paper
- Persian opium appears in brick-shaped cakes, wrapped in red paper

Storage

General undesirable changes during storage:
- Aromatic drugs lose their odour
- Absorbent cotton loses its absorbency
- Drugs containing fixed oil may become rancid
- Drugs containing volatile oils may become resinified
Exception for some drugs requiring storage for at least one year before use:
- Cascara and Frangula (laxative) barks contain glycosides which may oxidize during storage, losing their emetic effect

Principal factors responsible for deterioration of crude drugs

Physiological factors:
- Moisture
- Light
- Temperature
- Oxygen (Air)
Biological factors:
- Bacteria
- Molds
- Worms
- Insects
- Rodents

1- Moisture

Some drugs contain enzymes activated by moisture, leading to hydrolysis (e.g., digitalis)
Favours growth of bacteria and fungi

Enzymatic Stabilization

Temporary (partial stabilization):
- Keep the drug in completely dry conditions in a container with a dehydrating agent.
- Place the dehydrating agent at the top of the container, avoiding direct contact with the drug.
Complete (permanent stabilization):
- Expose the fresh drug to alcohol vapors or immerse in alcohol to destroy enzymes.

2- Light (photochemical reaction)

Digitalis loses its activity with light. Store in dark containers away from light.

3- Temperature

Temperatures up to 45°C can activate enzymes. Drugs containing volatile oils can lose their aroma at higher temperatures.

4- Oxygen (air)

Causes oxidation of constituents.
- Linseed oil becomes rancid
- Code-liver oil thickens, darkens, and becomes resinous.

Instructions of Pharmacopeia for crude drug storage

Moisture-free conditions
Airtight containers
Light-proof containers
Low temperatures
Store volatile or fixed oils under inert gas to prevent rancidity and resinification

2- Biological factors (control of infestation)

Heat treatment
- Temperatures of 60-65°C to kill insect eggs that are not penetrated by insecticides
Low temperature storage
- Insects, larvae, and eggs are killed by exposure to sub-freezing temperatures (-10 to -15°C) for 12-18 hours
Alternating periods of high and low temperatures are more effective for insect control than prolonged low temperature exposure
Liming
- Dip substances in calcium sulphate to coat with a fine powder, clogging breathing tubes of larvae and insect adults (e.g., ginger, nutmeg)
Fumigation:
- Uses volatile insecticides (e.g., carbon tetrachloride) in enclosed areas
- T-gas is used for medicinal plants and drugs
- 60Co is used on cereal pests
- Fumigation should be repeated every two weeks to permit hatching eggs, and allows young larvae to be killed.
Rodents
- Cause spoilage to drugs during storage
- Drugs in paper, cloth, and wooden containers are affected by rodents; so it's best to store them in glass, plastic, or metal containers.
- ANTU (alpha naphthyl thio urea) is a rodenticides

Adulteration

Adulteration = debasement of any article
- Sophistication
- Substitution
- Admixture
- Deterioration
- Spoilage
- Inferiority

A. Sophistication or True Adulteration

Adding inferior material to any article for profit
- Example: Adding wheat flour to ginger to lower costs, while adding capsium for pungency and turmeric for color

B. Substitution

Replacing one article with another entirely different one
- Example: Replacing Alexandrian senna with Dog Senna

C. Admixture

Adding one article to another accidentally or through faulty collection
- Example: Collecting a drug at the wrong time or maturity stage

D. Deterioration

Impairment of drug quality by damaging valuable constituents
- Example: Over-roasting coffee beans resulting in the loss of caffeine

E. Spoilage

Drug destruction from bacteria or fungi
- Example: Drugs unfit for human consumption

F. Inferiority

Any substandard condition
- Example: Dried Nux vomica seeds with less than 1.15% strychnine; Addition of olive stones to liquorice; Excessive stems present in collected stramonium leaves

Detection of Adulteration

Macro- and micro-morphology
Linear measurements
Solubility
Qualitative tests
Quantitative assays
Pharmacopeial constants
Comparison with authentic sample of the drug

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Description

This quiz covers Lecture 4 of PHG 1101 on the preparation of drugs from plants to pharmaceuticals. It discusses the various factors in drug packing, types of packing methods employed, and special considerations for moisture-sensitive and volatile drugs. Test your knowledge on the cultivation, collection, and storage of medicinal plants.