Pharmaceutical Biosynthesis and Drying

10 Questions

What is the purpose of drying in the process of drug evaluation?

To inhibit partially enzymatic reactions

Natural drying is preferred if natural color and volatile principles of drugs are to be retained.

True

What are the two types of drying mentioned in the content?

Natural Drying (Sun Drying) and Mechanical Drying

_____________________ evaluation involves qualitative and quantitative chemical tests, chemical assays, and instrumental analysis.

Chemical

What is the purpose of biological evaluation in drug evaluation?

To evaluate pharmacological activity, potency, and toxicity of plant extracts

Microscopic evaluation is used to identify plant characteristics and tissue features.

True

Match the following types of evaluation with their descriptions:

Microscopic Evaluation = To identify plant characteristics and tissue features Chemical Evaluation = To detect adulterants in crude drugs Physical Evaluation = To determine physical properties of crude drugs Biological Evaluation = To evaluate pharmacological activity, potency, and toxicity of plant extracts

What is the benefit of drying in terms of enzymatic reactions?

Drying inhibits partially enzymatic reactions.

The type of drying that involves direct sun drying and is preferred if natural color and volatile principles of drugs are to be retained is called _______________________ drying.

Natural (Sun) Drying

What is the purpose of manual vs. mechanical labor in the process of drug evaluation?

To harvest drugs

Study Notes

Pharmacognosy Overview

Pharmacognosy is the study of crude drugs obtained from plants, animals, and minerals, and their constituents.
Derived from the Greek words "Pharmakon" and "Gignosco" or "Gignoso".

History of Pharmacognosy

C.A Seydler (1815) coined the term Pharmacognosy in his doctoral thesis Analecta Pharmacognostica.
Galen described the method of preparing formula containing plant and animal drugs.

Definition of Terms

Natural substance: substances that comprise plant or animal parts or secretions.
Synthetic substances: substances synthesized in the laboratory by either total synthesis or semi-synthetic methods.
Crude drugs: vegetable or animal drugs that consist of natural substances that have undergone only the process of collection and drying.

Collection and Harvesting

Collection ensures a true natural source and reliable product.
Drugs should be collected when they contain maximum amount of constituents in a highly scientific manner.
Harvesting is an important operation in cultivation technology, and the type of drug to be harvested is a crucial point.

Drying

Drying consists of removing sufficient moisture content of crude drugs to improve its quality and make it resistant to the growth of microorganisms.
Benefits: inhibits partially enzymatic reactions, facilitates pulverizing or grinding of crude drugs.
Types: Natural Drying (Sun Drying), Oven (Tray Dryers), Vacuum Dryers, Spray Dryers.

Evaluation of Crude Drugs

Ensures the identity of a drug and determines the quality and purity of drugs.
Evaluation methods: Organoleptic, Microscopic, Chemical, Physical, and Biological.

Artificial Drying

Oven (Tray Dryers): suitable for drugs that do not contain volatile oils and are quite stable to heat.
Vacuum Dryers: suitable for drugs that are sensitive to higher temperature.
Spray Dryers: suitable for highly sensitive drugs to atmospheric conditions and temperature of vacuum drying.

Packaging, Storage, and Preservation

Packaging depends on the final deposition of drugs and provides ample protection to drugs and economy of space.
Proper storage and preservation are important factors in maintaining a high degree of quality of drugs.
Prevention of insects attacks: drying the drug thoroughly, fumigation, and addition of drops of Chloroform and Carbon tetrachloride.

Biosynthetic Laboratory

Living organisms can be considered as biosynthetic laboratories for chemical compounds utilized as foods by humans and animals, and for a multitude of compounds that exert physiologic effects.