Lecture 4 Medicinal Plants (PHG 1101) PDF

1. Cultivation ‫زراعة‬ Collection ‫حصاد‬ 2. Dr ying ‫تجفيف‬ 3. Packing ‫تغليف‬ 4. Storage ‫تخزين‬ 5.  Packing of drugs  Factors should considered while packing of the drug: 1)The morphological and chemical nature of drug. 2)The cli...

1. Cultivation ‫زراعة‬ Collection ‫حصاد‬ 2. Dr ying ‫تجفيف‬ 3. Packing ‫تغليف‬ 4. Storage ‫تخزين‬ 5.  Packing of drugs  Factors should considered while packing of the drug: 1)The morphological and chemical nature of drug. 2)The climatic conditions during transport. 3) Its storage.  Types of packing 1- Packing may be loose. 2- Or by the use of considerable pressure. Importance of packing 1- Provide sample protection to the drugs 2- Economical of space.  Packing of different plant parts  Leaves usually baled into a solid compact mass.  Seeds and fruits as well as rhizomes and roots are usually packed in burlap bag.  Cinnamon bark in the form of quills, is packed one inside the other quill to facilitate transport and prevent volatilization of oils.  Drugs likely to deteriorate from absorbed moisture (e.g. Digitalis) are packed in moisture-proof cans.  Volatile oils are shipped in enamelled cans.  Gums, resins are shipped in barrels, and cans. 1. Effect of packing on Appearance:  Indian senna leaves are packed into large bales, using hydraulic pressure resulting in the leaves being flatter and showing faint oblique lines where the midribs and margins of their leaves have been impressed.  Alexandrian senna are loosely packed. Oblique lines 2. Indication for Geographical source:  Opium : the dried latex from the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum L. Opium is collected by incising the capsules using various instruments.  Turkish opium occurs in sub-cylindrical cakes ,coated with coarsely powdered poppy leaves.  Indian opium is imported in 5 kg blocks wrapped in 2 sheets of thin grease proof paper.  Persian opium occurs in brick shaped cakes, each wrapped in red paper.  unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum L. (Opium) Storage  Aromatic drugs loses their odour.  Absorbent cotton loses its absorbance power.  Drugs containing fixed oil may be rancid.  Drugs containing volatile oils may be resinified. 1  Exception of drugs required to be stored for at least one year before use: E.g. Cascara and Frangula barks ( laxative).  They contain reduced form of glycosides which causes emesis (vomiting), but during storage, oxidation of the glycoside takes place losing this side effect. 1  Principal factors responsible for deterioration of crude drugs: 1. Physiological factors  Moisture  Light  Temperature  Oxygen (Air) 2. Biological factors  Bacteria  Moulds  Worms  Insects and rodents 1 1- Moisture  Some drugs contain enzymes which are activated by moisture e.g.; digitalis, leading to: Hydrolysis of the A.C.  Favours growth of bacteria and fungi. 1   Stabilization or inactivation of enzymes may be either: 1- Temporary: partial stabilization: Keeping drug in absolute dry conditions (in a container containing a dehydrating agent). N.B. Dehydrating agent is better put at the stopper of the container and not at the base thus giving no chance for moisture to get in contact with drug. 1  2-Complete stabilization: - Destruction of enzyme = permanent stabilization: by exposing the fresh drug to alcohol vapours or immersing the fresh drug in alcohol. 1 2- Light (photochemical reaction): -Digitalis lose its activity by light, so storage should be done in dark containers away from light. 3-Temperature: Up to 450C may activate enzyme. Drugs containing volatile oils, lose the aroma. 1 ⦁ Cause oxidation of constituents. 1. linseed oil becomes rancid. 2. Code-liver oil gradually thickens, darkens in colour and become resinous. 1  Instruction of Pharmacopeia for crude drug storage: 1-Moisture free 2- Air tight 3-Light proof containers 4- low Temperature 5-Volatile oils or fixed oils should be stored under inert gas to prevent rancidity and resinification. 1  Caused 20 by bacteria, moulds, worms, insects and rodents. A-Control of infestation: 1- Heat treatment:  Temperature of 60-650C to kill insect eggs that are not penetrated by insecticide. 2. Low temperature storage  Insects, larvae and eggs are killed by low temperature, exposure to sub-freezing temperature: (-10 to -150 C) for 12-18 hours. N.B.  Alternate period of high and low T. is more effective for killing insects than prolonged period of low T. exposure. 3. Liming  Drugs are dipped in (calcium sulphate) to coat the drug with a fine powder that clogs breathing tubes of larvae and adult insects. e.g.: Ginger and nutmeg 2  4. Fumigation: by volatile insecticide in closed area e.g.  carbon tetrachloride (highly poisonous).  T-gas is used for medicinal plants and drugs.  More recently, 60Co on cereal pests.  Fumigation should be repeated after 2weeks, to permit eggs to hatch and young larvae are killed. 2  Cause spoilage to drugs during storage.  Drugs present in paper, cloths, wooden containers are affected by rodents, so drugs are better stored in glass, plastic or metal containers.  ANTU = alpha naphthyl thio urea is an example of rodenticidal. 2  Adulteration Adulteration = debasement of any article Sophistication Substitution Admixture Deterioration Spoilage Inferiority 24 A. Sophistication or True Adulteration:  It is the addition of an inferior material to any article with intend cheat. 1- Addition of wheat flour to ginger, with enough Capsicum to restore pungency and Curcuma to maintain the colour. 2- Coffee beans imitated by compressing Chicory leaves to the coffee beans. 2  B. Substitution:  An entirely different article is used or sold in place of the required article. N.B: Substitution is not sophistication as none of the original article is present, yet, legally it is adulteration.  Substitution with inferior commercial variety e.g. Dog Senna instead of Alexandrian Senna. 2  C. Admixture:  The addition of one article to another through accident, ignorance or admixture may occur through faulty collection. e.g. Collecting a drug not in the proper time, or not at the proper stage of maturity. 2  An impairment of the quality of the drug by destruction of valuable constituents. e.g Over roasting of Coffee = losing caffeine. E. Spoilage:  The article is destroyed by the action of bacteria or fungi.  E.g. All drugs which are unfit to human consumption. 2  F. Inferiority:  It is any substandard condition for any cause. 1- e.g. Dried ripe seeds of Nux vomica containing less than 1.15% strychnine is considered of inferior quality. 2- Adding olive stones to liquorice. 3- Excessive amounts of stems present with the collected stramonium leaves. 2 1. Macro and micro-morphology 2. Linear measurements 3. Solubility 4. Qualitative tests 5. Quantitative assays 6. Pharmacopeial constants 7. Comparison with authentic sample of the drug 3