Pharmacognosy Quiz: Classification of Crude Drugs

Study Notes

Classification of Drugs

Taxonomical classification groups organisms based on their evolutionary history and relationships, aiding in understanding biological contexts.
Pharmacological classification organizes drugs based on their mechanisms of action, effects, and therapeutic uses, facilitating clinical application.

Merits and Demerits

A merit of taxonomical classification: Provides a systematic framework for identifying and studying plant and animal species.
A demerit of pharmacological classification: May become complex and less practical due to overlapping effects among different drugs.

Drug Classification Types

Morphological or external character-based classification: Arranges drugs according to their physical form and structural attributes.
Drugs derived from parts with cellular organization are referred to as organized crude drugs.
Organized crude drugs are distinguished by having a specific cellular structure.

Meaning and Classification Methods

Organized crude drugs refer to those with identifiable cellular structure, such as roots, stems, and leaves.
Classification by Latin, common, or vernacular names is known as alphabetical classification.
Key advantage of alphabetical classification: Simplifies drug identification, making it easier to locate specific substances based on their names.

Examples and Differences

An example of unorganized crude drug: Substances lacking defined cellular structure, such as resins or gums.
Taxonomical classification differs from alphabetical classification in that it emphasizes evolutionary relationships rather than name order.
Organized crude drugs are characterized by their cellular structure, while unorganized crude drugs lack such structural definition.

Description

Learn about the meaning of crude medicine in pharmacognosy and the classification into organized and unorganized crude drugs based on cellular organization. Organized crude drugs have anatomical features like stems, roots, and leaves, while unorganized crude drugs lack these features.