Pharmacognosy Process Overview PDF

Pharmacognosy Process Overview 1. Cultivation o Factors: Indigenous vs. naturalized; environmental controls (fertilizers, pest management). o Outcomes: Regular supply, quality control. 2. Collection o Timing: Seasonal and daily variations affect active...

Pharmacognosy Process Overview 1. Cultivation o Factors: Indigenous vs. naturalized; environmental controls (fertilizers, pest management). o Outcomes: Regular supply, quality control. 2. Collection o Timing: Seasonal and daily variations affect active constituents. o Examples: Digitalis (afternoon), Solanaceous leaves (morning). 3. Drying o Methods: Sun drying, shade drying, vacuum drying, freeze drying. o Goal: Prevent microbial growth, preserve active principles. 4. Storage o Risks: Moisture, temperature, light, air. o Prevention: Use of fumigation, light-proof containers, drying agents. Key Concepts in Adulteration 1. Sophistication: Drug mixed with cheaper adulterants (e.g., sawdust in ginger). 2. Substitution: Entirely different substances used (e.g., Phytolacca for Atropa). 3. Admixture: Unintentional inclusion of other materials (e.g., clove stalks with buds). 4. Inferiority: Use of lower-quality or improperly collected drugs. Evaluation Techniques 1. Organoleptic: Sense-based evaluation (shape, size, taste). 2. Microscopical: Examination of cellular content (e.g., lignin, starch). 3. Chemical: Testing active constituents with reagents (e.g., Mayer’s test for alkaloids). 4. Physical: Measurement of solubility, refractive index, etc. 5. Chromatographic: Fingerprinting for authenticity (TLC, HPLC). Chemical Components in Crude Drugs 1. Storage Substances: o Starch (blue with iodine). o Fixed Oils (red with Sudan III). 2. Metabolic By-products: o Alkaloids (test with Dragendorff’s). o Tannins (FeCl₃ reaction: bluish-black for pyrogallol). o Volatile Oils (temporary stain on paper).