Pharmacology Quiz: Pharmacognosy and Botany

Cardiotonics

• Aspirin is not a cardiotonic drug, but rather an anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication used for pain relief and to reduce inflammation.

Digitalis

• Digitalis increases the contractility of the cardiac muscle without increasing myocardial oxygen demand.
• Digitalis is also known as Foxglove leaves or Purple foxglove.
• Digitalis purpurea belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, commonly known as the figwort family.
• The primary chemical constituents responsible for the activity of Digitalis are cardiac glycosides, such as digitoxin and digoxin.

Arjuna

• Arjuna may cause gastrointestinal upset in some individuals.
• The recommended dosage range for Arjuna bark extract is 500-1000 mg per day, divided into two doses.
• Arjuna has been traditionally used for the management of asthma.
• Soxhlet extraction is the primary method used to obtain the active constituents from Arjuna bark.
• Arjuna can affect cardiovascular parameters.
• Arjuna consists of the dried stem bark of Terminalia arjuna, a plant belonging to the family Combretaceae.
• The primary chemical constituent found in Arjuna is tannins.
• Arjuna is used as a cardiotonic, diuretic, and astringent, but not as an antihistamine.
• Arjuna bark can be distinguished from the bark of Terminalia tomentosa by conducting a fluorescence test, which gives a pinkish fluorescence.

Miscellaneous

• The Keller-Kiliani test is used to detect the presence of digitoxose in Digitalis.