Phytochemical Methods in Drug Analysis

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of drying in the processing of plants?

To separate leaves from stems

To wash plants clean

To powder plants for analysis

To remove water content from plants for storage (correct)

What method of drying requires large number of workers for loading and unloading?

Sun-drying

Serial exhaustive extraction

Natural process

Artificial drying (correct)

What is the purpose of powdering plants after drying?

To store plants for long periods

To extract plant tissue

To wash plants clean

For further analysis (correct)

What happens if plants are not dried immediately after collection?

Spoilage of plant materials occurs Signup and view all the answers

What is involved in the natural process of drying?

Air-drying plants in barns or sheds Signup and view all the answers

What method of extraction involves grinding plant parts in a blender?

Plant tissue homogenization Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of collecting plants from wild forests?

They are free from pesticides Signup and view all the answers

Why is it necessary to clean plants by hand?

To get better results Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of filtering the extract in plant tissue homogenization?

To clarify the extract Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of cleaning plants after collection?

To prevent deterioration of phytochemicals Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe medicines derived from phytochemicals?

Man-friendly medicines Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of qualitative analysis of phytochemicals?

To identify the type of phytochemicals present Signup and view all the answers

What are phytochemicals used for in the pharmaceutical industry?

As raw materials for elaborating semi-synthetic chemical compounds Signup and view all the answers

Why are phytochemicals becoming increasingly popular?

Due to their countless medicinal uses and lack of side effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the risk associated with collecting plants from wild forests?

They may be incorrectly identified Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the biologically active compounds present in plants?

Phytochemicals Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Phytochemicals and Their Significance

Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds present in plants, known for their structural diversity and wide range of pharmacological activities.
These compounds are derived from various parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, barks, roots, and pulps.
Phytochemicals serve as sources of direct medicinal agents and as a raw material base for the elaboration of more complex semi-synthetic chemical compounds.

Plant Collection and Preparation

Plants can be collected from wild forests or herbariums, but those collected from wild forests may be incorrectly identified.
Collected plants must be processed for cleaning to prevent deterioration of phytochemicals.
Cleaning involves steps such as cleaning, washing, peeling, or stripping leaves from stems, and must be done by hand for better results.
Drying is essential to remove water content from plants, and can be done either naturally (sun-drying) or artificially (using artificial driers).
Artificial drying methods, such as warm-air drying, can reduce drying time to several hours or minutes.

Drying Methods

Natural drying methods include sun-drying, which may take few weeks, depending on temperature and humidity.
Artificial drying methods include warm-air drying, which is applicable to fragile flower and leaves, but requires a large number of workers.

Powdering and Extraction

After complete drying, plants must be powdered well for further analysis.
Plant tissue homogenization in solvent is a widely used method of extraction, involving grinding plant parts to fine particles and shaking them vigorously in a solvent.
Serial exhaustive extraction is another common method of extraction, which involves repeated extraction of plant parts with solvents of increasing polarity.

Importance of Phytochemicals

Phytochemicals have countless medicinal uses, such as curing diseases like asthma, arthritis, and cancer, without causing any side effects.
Phytochemicals can be considered "man-friendly medicines" due to their ability to cure diseases without harming human beings.

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Description

This quiz covers general phytochemical methods used in drug analysis, including the extraction and identification of biologically active compounds from plants. It explores the diversity of phytochemicals and their pharmacological activities.