Plant Structure and Herbal Medicine Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which structure is responsible for transporting water and minerals in plants?

Xylem vessels (correct)

Cambium

Sieve tubes

Phloem

What type of drugs are Ginger, Curcuma, Valerian, and Garlic classified as?

Antibiotics

Sedatives

Drugs containing volatile oils (correct)

Stimulants

Which of the following tissues is primarily involved in the lateral growth of a plant?

Phloem

Medullary rays

Xylem vessels

Cambium (correct)

What type of crystal is associated with the cluster crystals of Ca.Ox.?

Calcium oxalate Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the plant is primarily responsible for nutrient transport between cells?

Phloem Signup and view all the answers

Which type of ginger is characterized by being completely peeled?

Scraped or uncoated ginger Signup and view all the answers

What treatment gives limed ginger its whitish appearance?

Treatment with calcium sulphate or carbonate Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used to produce bleached ginger?

Treatment with sulphurous acid or chlorine Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of limed ginger as compared to scraped ginger?

It appears whiter due to treatment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method for processing ginger as mentioned?

Boiling in water Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum recommended daily intake of the substance mentioned?

Three grams Signup and view all the answers

Excessive intake of the substance can lead to which of the following conditions?

Convulsions Signup and view all the answers

What potential health risk is associated with the excessive buildup of white corpuscles in the blood?

Leukemia Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following risks is mentioned as a consequence of high intake of the substance?

Miscarriage Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable effect of overstimulation of the nervous system due to excessive intake?

Sleep disturbances Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a free anthraquinone?

Rhein Signup and view all the answers

What is the glycoside form of chrysophanol known as?

Chrysophanein Signup and view all the answers

Which compound is categorized as an anthraquinone with carboxyl groups?

Rhein Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following options includes both a free anthraquinone and its glycoside?

Chrysophanol and chrysophanein Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a glycoside of an anthraquinone with a carboxyl group?

Gluco-rhein Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary chemical component responsible for the pungency in ginger?

Gingerol Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about curcuminoids?

Curcumin is the chief curcuminoid that colors saliva yellow. Signup and view all the answers

How can the pungency of ginger be diminished?

By using a 2% solution of potassium Signup and view all the answers

What color is curcumin, the chief curcuminoid?

Yellow Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential risk associated with the use of male fern for treating worms in animals?

Irritant poison and possible blindness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes gingerol?

It has an oily body, is odourless, but highly pungent. Signup and view all the answers

In addition to treating worms, which of the following conditions can male fern be used to treat?

Nose bleeds Signup and view all the answers

What type of plant is male fern primarily used as in veterinary practice?

Anthelmintic Signup and view all the answers

What condition is NOT mentioned as being treated by male fern?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following precautions is recommended when using male fern?

Careful dosing due to its irritant effects Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Subterranean Organs

Subterranean organs include rhizomes and roots. Some drugs consist of attached rhizomes and roots. In some cases, rhizomes resemble roots in size and appearance.
Subterranean organs used in medicine are usually collected from perennial plants.
These organs serve as storage organs for various nutrients. They are rich in reserved food materials such as carbohydrates (starch in rhubarb and filix mass, sugars in gentian and squill, inulin in compositae).
They lack chlorophyll.

Classification of Subterranean Organs

Subterranean organs include subterranean stems and subterranean roots.
Subterranean stems include rhizomes and corms. Stem tubers and bulbs are also part of subterranean stems.
Subterranean roots include roots and root tubers.
There is no clear commercial division between rhizomes and roots.

Difference between Subterranean Organs

Subterranean Roots: Lack leaves, absent buds, lateral branches present, lack adventitious roots, have growing points (root cap/calyoptra), absent nodes and internodes, absent pericycle, solid central xylem mass, and wrinkles that are longitudinally oriented.
Subterranean Stems: Leaves present, scaly buds, lateral branches present, adventitious roots present, protected growing points by leaves, nodes & internodes present, pericycle is present, and wrinkles that are transversely oriented. Stem tubers are swollen underground stems full of stored food, and differ from root tubers in bearing small scales and buds (eyes). Bulbs are underground stems reduced to small discs and have fleshy scale leaves and adventitious roots.

Types of Subterranean Stems

Rhizome: Most important and common subterranean stems, underground stem with nodes and internodes, long or short, terminal buds, and aerial shoots. Some rhizomes may be branched (ginger) or non-branched.
Corm: Shortened swollen stems that are erect, covered with brown scale leaves, and have a large apical bud and small axillary ones, daughter corm below large apical bud, formed from one season's growth.
Stem Tuber: Swollen underground stems full of reserved food material used for vegetative propagation, differ from root tubers in having several small scales and buds (eyes).

Types of Subterranean Roots

Roots: Similar to other roots, with main functions as absorption from soil.
Root Tuber: A form of subterranean root that stores food and nutrients, it is a thickened, enlarged stem that grows underground.

Anomalous Structures in Subterranean Organs

Rhubarb: Abnormal bundles produced in the pith that form radiating structures ("star spots"). The collapsed premedullary phloem is surrounded by abnormally developed cambium, outwards xylem and inwards phloem. Radiating slightly curved medullary rays.

Classification of Drugs

I. Drugs containing volatile oils: Ginger, Curcuma, Valerian, Garlic.
II. Drugs containing glycosides:
A. Anthraquinone: Rhubarb
B. Cardiac: Squill
C. Bitter: Gentian
III. Drugs containing Alkaloids: Ipecacuanha, Aconite, Rauwolfia

Ginger

Synonym: Rhizoma Zingiberis
Origin: Dried scraped or unscraped rhizome of Zingiber officinale, Zingeberaceae, devoid of roots and outer dark tissues, known as unbleached Jamaica Ginger.
Note: Fingers bearing buds, a monocot.
Types: Coated or unscraped, scraped or uncoated, limed, bleached.
Microscopic Characteristics: Yellowish white color with an agreeable aromatic odour and pungent taste. Characterized by scitaminaceous starch (simple starch granules, ovoid, eccentric hilum, and faint transverse striations). Non-lignified (except middle lamella) septated fibers with oblique slit-like pits. Contains oleo-resin cells, and reticularly lignified xylem with associated pigment cells.
Active Constituents: Volatile oil (camphene, beta-phellandrene, cineole, geranyl acetate, and others). Oleoresin (gingerol, shogaol, zingerone, and paradol).
Uses: Nausea and vomiting (powdered ginger is more effective compared to dimenhydrinate), colds and flu, anti-inflammatory and analgesic (migraine, rheumatic and muscular disorders).
Contraindications: Affects bleeding time, contraindicated with anticoagulant & anti-platelet aggregation drugs.
Chemical tests: Volatile oil test (powder with Sudan III gives orange red oil globules), starch test (dilute iodine solution gives blue color).

Curcuma

Synonym: Turmeric (various forms)
Origin: Dried rhizome of Curcuma domestica & Curcuma longa, Zingeberaceae
Note: Steamed and boiled rhizome, monocot.
Active Constituents: Volatile oil (zingeberine), curcuminoids (coloring matter, e.g., curcumin). Starch often gelatinized, resin, a variety of mucilage.
Uses: Aromatic stomachic and diuretic; treatment of jaundice and hepatitis due to the antihepatotoxic action of curcuminoids; large quantities of turmeric are used in preparation of curries and sauces; cholagogic & coloring agent.
Chemical tests: Mix powder with a mixture of ether & CHCI3, put a drop on a filter paper, a yellow color is produced, turns orange-red upon addition of boric acid, and turns bluish black when treated with NH3.

Valerian

Synonym: Rhizoma Valeriana
Origin: Dried rhizome and roots of Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae, collected in autumn, dried.
Active Constituents: Volatile oil (bornyl iso-valerianate, bornyl acetate, and bornyl formate), alcohols, terpenes and sesquiterpenes. The root contains alkaloids (chatinine and valerine). Mucilage and resin.
Uses: Sleep disorders (insomnia), depression, mild tremors, epilepsy, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and calmative for hysteria and other nervous disorders. May be prescribed with bromides or other sedatives. Has a mild diuretic effect. Useful for menopausal hot flashes and insomnia; sedative for stress and palpitations.

Garlic

Origin: Freshly dried bulbs of Allium sativum, Liliaceae
Active Constituents: Volatile oil (17 sulphur compounds) including allicin, allixin and ajoene. Minerals (Se, I2, Zn). Vitamins (A, B, C) & enzyme (glutathione). S-allyl-cysteine. Dialyl trisulphide.
Uses: Effective antibiotic; anti-stress compound; prevents blood clots, works against fungi and cancer, preventing stomach cancer, also reduces blood pressure, and blood sugar. Relieves asthma & bronchitis, and used in treating common colds, influenza, burns, arthritis, and lumbago.
Chemical Tests: Volatile oil test (with Sudan III gives orange red color), starch test (dilute iodine solution gives blue color)

Rhubarb

Synonym: Rhizoma Rhei
Origin: Peeled dried rhizome and roots of Rheum palmatum, Rheum officinale, Polygonaceae, deprived of most of the bark except Rheum rhaponticum.
Active Constituents: Anthraquinones (chrysophanol, aloe-emedin, emodin, physcion); anthraquinones with carboxyl groups (e.g., rhein and its glycoside gluco-rhein); anthrone or dianthrones (e.g., chrysophanol, emodin, or aloe-emodin, sennosides A and B, oxalates of these); and heterodianthrones. Tannins (glucogallin, free gallic acid, epicatechin gallate, and catechin). Starch and calcium oxalate.
Uses: Bitter stomachic in small doses. Purgative in large doses (can cause constipation).
Chemical tests: Micro-sublimation test (yellow needle sublimate which dissolves in KOH gives red color); Bornrager's test (boil powder with alc. KOH, filter, boil then with HCl, shake with ether; separate ether layer, then add NH3, rose red color in aqueous layer). Test for identity (extract powder with an alcohol, then examine a spot on filter paper under UV, a distinct blue fluorescence will indicated rhapontic rhubarb). Another test using furfural, alcohol, and conc. H2SO4; bluish violet under microscope will indicate rhapontic rhubarb).

Squill

Synonym: Bulb Scilla
Origin: Dried sliced bulbs of Urginea martima, Liliaceae (white squill).
Active Constituents: Cardiac glycosides (bufadienolides), scillaren A, proscillaridin A; aglycone scillarenin, scillaren B; flavoniods; mucilage (callose); sinistrin; irritant resin.
Uses: Cardiotonic (slow heart, strengthen pulse); treating irregular heartbeats, mild heart failure, other heart-related issues, lung diseases. Effective diuretic to relieve fluid retention (edema).
Side Effects: In large doses can cause inflammation of the GI & genitourinary tracts, severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions; a marked drop in temperature, weak circulation and possible death; intense skin irritation from fresh squill.
Chemical Tests: Corallín soda (test for mucilage), Liebermann, Keller-Kiliani (tests for the steroidal part), Baljet (test for cardiac glycosides).

Filix-Mas Rhizome

Origin: Carefully dried rhizome, frond bases, and apical buds of Dryopteris Filix Mas (Schott), Polypodiaceae.
Active Constituents: Yellow amorphous oleo-resin (phloroglucinol derivatives), including filicin or crude filicic acid. Main components include filmarone, filicic acid (lactone is filicin), flavaspidic acid, flavaspidinol, aspidinol, filicitannic acid. Fixed oil, starch, and resin.
Uses: Powerful vermifuge used to kill intestinal worms such as tapeworms. Administered while the patient takes saline to flush the worms.

Hydrastis

Origin: Dried rhizome and roots of Hydrastis canadensis Linn., Berberidaceae
Active Constituents: Alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine, canadine, jatrorhizine, and mognoflorine). Cytotoxic isoquinoline alkaloids (liriodenine, palmatine), and puntarenine. Starch, resins, and traces of volatile oil.
Uses: General tonic, antiseptic dust. Treats ulcers, sinus conditions, dyspepsia, intestinal worms, bowel irregularity, gonorrhea, prostate and vaginal infections. Morning sickness. Catarrhal conditions of the genitourinary tract. Used to control uterine hemorrhage.

Podophyllum

G. Sources: USA & Canada; fall harvest, washing, freeing from soil, lengths about 10 cm, dried.
Active Constituents: Podophyllin resin (2-6% of neutral resin). Podophyllotoxin (crystalline purgative resin). Podophylloresin (amorphous resin, copper acetate bright green); Peltatins (as glucosides, free and β-). Flavonoids (quercetin). Starch.
Uses: Purgative. Treatment of constipation due to hepatic disorders. Treatment of soft venereal warts (due to its cytotoxic effect) & anticancer properties in brain tumors and lymphatic leukemia in children.
Indian Podophyllum: The same as the American type, except about 6–12% of total resin and podophyllotoxin quantity in the resin is much higher (c. 40%). Peltatins are present in lesser amounts. Uses are the same as the American Podophyllum, and its resin is twice as active.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the structures responsible for water and nutrient transport in plants, as well as the classification of various herbs and their properties. This quiz covers essential topics in botany and herbal medicine, challenging you with questions about growth, processing methods, and health considerations of certain substances.