Unorganized Drugs Lecture Notes PDF

02/06/2024 UNORGANIZED DRUGS  They are crude drugs of plant or animal origin and having no cellular structure. They are either mixture of chemical substances or they are decomposition products. They are classified into...

02/06/2024 UNORGANIZED DRUGS  They are crude drugs of plant or animal origin and having no cellular structure. They are either mixture of chemical substances or they are decomposition products. They are classified into Gums, Lattices, Juices, Resins and resin combinations. 1  02/06/2024 GUM ARABIC  Acacia (Gum Arabic) is a dried gum obtained from the stem and branches of Acacia senegal (Hashab) and of some other species of Acacia (Mimosaceae). It is abundant in the Sudan particularly, in Kordofan, in central Africa and in West Africa.  Constituent The complete composition of the gum is extremely complex and has not been fully elucidated. Acacia consists mainly of arabin the calcium (with traces of magnesium and potassium) salt of Arabic acid. Acid hydrolysis with H2SO4 shows that the polysaccharide fraction composed of L-rhamnopyranose, D-galactopyranos, L- arabinofuranose and the aldobionic acid 6-B-D- glucuronosido-D-galactose. Small amounts of protein, 2  02/06/2024 including arabinogalactan-proteins, beside amino acids. Acacia also contains an oxidase enzyme and about 47% of water. It yields about 2.7- 4 % of ash. Uses  1- General stabilizer in emulsions and lozenges.  2- Due to demulcent effects, it is a component in various preparations like cough, diarrhea and throat preparations.  Tests  1. Acacia is almost completely soluble in an equal weight of water.  2. A very weak solution precipitates with lead subacetate solution with no precipitate with lead acetate and no blue colour with iodine (tragacanth).  3. The mucilage gives a blue colour when treated with solution of benzidine (carcinogen) and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, which indicates the presence of a peroxidas. Thin layer chromatography can be applied for identification of the gum. 3  02/06/2024  GUM TRAGACANTH  It is the air-hardened gummy exudate, obtained from the trunk and branches of Astragalus microcephalus, the principal species with small amount of A. gummifer and A. kurdicus (Fabacae) of Western Asia, Anatolia, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.  Constituents Tragacanth consists of a water-soluble fraction known as tragacanthin and a water-insoluble fraction known as bassorin; the best grades of gum contain the least tragacanthin. Among the products of hydrolysis galacturonic acid D-galactopyranose, L- arabinofuranose and D-xylopyranose have been identified. There are also proteins and amino acids. 4  02/06/2024  Uses  Tragacanth is used in pharmacy as a suspending agent for insoluble powders, etc…or as a binding a gent in pills and tablets.  Tests  The drug swells in the water in gelatinous mass. It gives few blue points with dilute iodine , while with stronger solution it gives green colour.  - Aqueous solution + HCl, heat for 30 min., divide into two portions:  a- Add NaOH and potassium copper tartarate, heat in water bath → red ppt  b- Add BaCl2 → no ppt (agar??).  - Solution in water + barium hydroxide → slight flocculent ppt, heat → yellow colour.  STERCULIA GUMS  It is the dried gummy exudate obtained from the tree Sterculia urens (Stcrculiaceae). It s produced in India, Pakistan and to a small extent in Africa.  Constituents  Partial acid hydrolysis of sterculia yields D-galactose, L- rhamnose, D- galacturonic acid, aldobiouronic acids and acid trisaccharide and acetic acid.  Uses  The granular grades are used as a bulk laxative; the powdered gum is used in lozenges pastes and denture fixative powder.  Tests  1. In water sterculia gum has low solubility but swells to many times its original volume.  2. When boiled with solution of potash it becomes slightly brownish colour (tragacanth yellow). 5  02/06/2024  AGAR (JAPANESE ISSINGLASS)  It is the dried colloidal concentrate from a decoction of various red algae, particularly species of Gelidium pterucladia. Agar is obtained from Japan (Gelidium amansii), Korea, South Africa, both Atlantic and Pacific Coasts of the USA, Chile, Spain and Portugal.  Constituents  Agar has long been known to yield on hydrolysis D- and L- galactose and sulphate ions; the two principal constituents of which are agarose and agaropectin. Agarose is a neutral galactose polymer, while agaropectin appears to be sulphonated polysaccharide in which galactose and uronic acid units are partly esterified with sulphuric acid.   Identification tests  Solubility: insoluble in cold water slowly swells and is soluble in boiling water.  Powder + rhuthenium red → the particles are stained deep red.  Powder + KOH → deep yellow colour.  Powder + I2 → reddish to violet but not blue colour.  Aqueous solution + dil. HCL boil in water bath for 30 min, add BaCl2 → white ppt. (gum tragacanth and gelatin).  Uses  Laxative  Suspending agent and emulsifier.  Gelating agent for suppositories and surgical lubricants.  Tablets disintegrant.  Used as a gel in bacteriologic culture media. 6  02/06/2024  Olibanum (Frankincense)  It is an oleo-gum-resin obtained by incision from the bark of Boswellia carterii, B. frereana and other species of Boswellia (Burseraceae); small trees indigenous to north-eastern Africa and Arabia.  Constituents  The drug contains 3-8% of volatile oil consisting of numerous terpenes, sesquiterpenes about 60-70% of resin and 27 -35% of gum; the gum consists of two polysaccharides one consisting of units of galactose and arabinose and the other of galactose and galacturonic acid.  Uses  Olibanum is used in incense and fumigating preparations. Former1y it was considered a stimulant, expectorant and has been used in China for the treatment of leprosy. It was reported to have anti-inflammatory properties, anticancer and improves memory in animal studies.  GELATIN  It is a mixture of gel-forming proteins obtained by treating certain animal tissues, particularly skin and bones with hot water. The process converts insoluble collagens into soluble gelatin; the solution is then purified and concentrated to a solid form.  Constituents: consists mainly of the protein glutin and so gives positive test for proteins.  Uses  In preparation of capsules, supp.  Nutrient, used in preparation of food products.  In bacteriologic culture media.  7 02/06/2024 8