OIA2007 [QUIZLET] STANDARDIZATION & QUALITY CONTROL OF HERBAL DRUGS

What constitutes an effective source of traditional and modern medicine?

Medicinal plants.

What percentage of the global retail market for herbal medicine is represented by Germany and France?

39% of the $14 billion global retail market.

What is the dependence of the rural population in India on medicinal herbs?

About 80% depend on medicinal herbs and/or indigenous systems of medicine.

What percentage of synthetic medicines are derived from plants?

Approximately 70%.

What is the general perception of adulteration in herbal drugs?

Adulteration is considered an intentional practice.

What is the definition of adulteration in herbal products?

Adulteration is the intentional substitution with another plant species or the addition of a foreign substance to increase weight or potency or to decrease cost.

What are the two main types of adulteration in herbal products?

Intentional and unintentional adulteration.

What is a consequence of adulteration in herbal products?

Decline in faith in herbal drugs.

What is one of the greatest limitations in promoting herbal products?

Adulteration in market samples.

What is the impact of unintended herbs in herbal products?

Adverse event reports are often due to the presence of unintended herbs.

What is the definition of intentional adulteration?

Commercially motivated substitution aimed at enhancing profits, often due to drug scarcity and high market prices.

What causes unintentional adulteration?

Poor collection practices, handling, storage, transport, and other factors like deterioration and admixture.

What does deterioration refer to in the context of herbal drugs?

Impairment in the quality of the crude drug.

What is admixture in herbal drug adulteration?

Addition of one plant material to another due to ignorance, carelessness, or accident.

What is sophistication in the context of herbal drug adulteration?

Deliberate adulteration to increase weight or potency.

What does substitution mean in herbal drug adulteration?

Adding a totally different substance in place of the original crude drug.

What does inferiority refer to in herbal drugs?

Any substandard drug.

What causes spoilage in herbal drugs?

Attack by microorganisms, rodents, insects, or spoilage due to environmental factors.

What are some reasons for unintentional adulteration?

Confusion in vernacular names, lack of knowledge about authentic plants, morphological similarity, careless collection, and poor packaging.

What is one of the miscellaneous unknown reasons for unintentional adulteration?

Severe exposure to atmospheric conditions like temperature and humidity.

What is the importance of understanding adulteration in herbal products?

To identify spurious plants and authenticate pure plants.

What role do researchers play in the context of herbal drug adulteration?

They contribute to scientific literature to identify adulterations and authenticate genuine plants.

What is the significance of organoleptic and microscopic evaluation in herbal drugs?

They are methods used for the evaluation of crude drugs.

What is the Ayurvedic name for Fumaria parviflora?

Parpatta

What is the Siddha name for Mollugo pentaphylla?

Parpadagam

What are the characteristics of Mollugo pentaphylla?

Pale yellow to mild brown colored, thin wiry stems and small simple leafy buds.

What are the characteristics of Fumaria parviflora?

Black to dark brown-colored, digitate leafy buds with narrow segments.

What is a common example of adulteration due to name confusion in herbal medicine?

M. pentaphylla is often supplied as Parpatta/Parpadagam, while F. parviflora is supplied in North India.

What is the local name for Mesua ferrea in Ayurveda?

Nagakesar

What is commonly adulterated with Mesua ferrea flowers?

Flowers of Calophyllum inophyllum.

How can authentic Mesua ferrea flowers be identified?

By the presence of a two-celled ovary, unlike spurious flowers which have a single celled ovary.

What is a significant issue regarding the knowledge of suppliers in herbal medicine?

Suppliers often lack knowledge about the authentic sources of plants.

What is a common issue with Mucuna pruriens seeds?

They are often adulterated with similar papilionaceae seeds like M. utilis and M. deeringiana.

How can Mucuna pruriens seeds be distinguished from adulterants?

Authentic seeds are up to 1 cm in length with a shining mosaic pattern of black and brown color.

What are the sizes of M. deeringiana and M. utilis seeds compared to Mucuna pruriens?

M. deeringiana and M. utilis are bigger (1.5-2 cm) in size.

What is the local name for Ventilago madraspatana?

Ratanjot.

What is the authentic source that yields a red dye and can substitute Ventilago madraspatana?

Arnebia euchroma var.

What is the issue with Hypericum perforatum in India?

H. patulum is sold in place of the limited H. perforatum.

What anatomical features distinguish Hypericum perforatum from H. patulum?

H. perforatum has compressed thin phloem, hollow pith, and absence of calcium oxalate crystals, while H. patulum has broader phloem, partially hollow pith, and presence of calcium oxalate crystals.

What is a consequence of careless collections in herbal medicine?

Herbal adulterations occur due to carelessness, leading to admixture with other species.

What is Parmelia perlata used for in traditional medicine?

It is used in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha.

What are common adulterants found with Parmelia perlata?

P. perforata and P. cirrhata.

What is the local name for Pueraria tuberosa?

Vidari.

What is a common substitute for Pueraria tuberosa?

Ipomoea digitata.

What is a notable issue regarding the sale of Cycas circinalis?

It is sold as Vidari despite being an endangered gymnosperm.

Where do the adulterated materials of Vidari commonly originate from?

Kerala, India.

What is Cycas circinalis known for in the context of plant drugs?

It is a major source for a drug, although the reason for its prominence is unknown.

How can P. tuberosa be identified morphologically?

By the presence of papery flake-like tubers.

What distinguishes I. digitata from other plants?

It has concentric rings of vascular bundles.

What morphological feature helps identify C. circinalis?

Its leaf scars and absence of vessel elements.

What are the main reasons for intentional adulteration of drugs?

1. Adulteration using manufactured substances 2. Substitution using inferior commercial varieties 3. Substitution using exhausted drugs 4. Substitution of superficially similar inferior natural substances 5. Adulteration using the vegetative part of the same plant 6. Addition of toxic materials 7. Adulteration of powders 8. Addition of synthetic principles.

What does adulteration using manufactured substances entail?

It involves mixing the original substance with artificially manufactured materials, such as ergot powder with fluor dough.

Give an example of substitution using inferior commercial varieties.

Hog gum or hog tragacanth used for tragacanth gum.

What is meant by substitution using exhausted drugs?

It refers to reusing drugs after extracting their active compounds, often with added coloring or flavoring agents.

How can superficially similar inferior natural substances be problematic in drug adulteration?

They may look similar but lack the genuine species' chemical constituents or therapeutic activity.

What is an example of adulteration using the vegetative part of the same plant?

Excessive amounts of mosses, liverworts, and lichens found with cascara or cinchona bark.

What type of materials are added in adulteration that are toxic?

Materials like lead shot in opium or limestone pieces with asafetida.

How are powdered drugs commonly adulterated?

With powdered waste products of suitable color and density, such as powdered olive stones for gentian.

What is the unethical practice related to synthetic principles in herbal preparations?

Adding synthetic drugs to improve market performance.

What is an example of a synthetic principle added to natural products?

Citral added to lemon oil.

What is the significance of the latest analytical techniques in herbal products?

They can easily detect synthetic drugs in herbal preparations.

What is the role of synthetic drugs in herbal preparations?

To enhance performance for market sales, often considered unethical.

What is the consequence of using inferior natural substances in drug substitution?

They may not provide the expected therapeutic effects.

What is an example of a coloring agent used after extraction of drugs?

Artificial dyes used to recolor saffron and red rose petals.

How does the addition of toxic materials affect drug safety?

It poses health risks to consumers due to the presence of harmful substances.

What is the impact of excessive vegetative parts in crude drugs?

It can lead to adulteration and compromise the quality of the drug.

What are the implications of using inferior varieties in drug substitution?

They may have similar morphological characters but lack efficacy.

What is a common adulterant for powdered ipecacuanha?

Dextrin.

How can adulteration affect the therapeutic activity of a drug?

It can diminish or alter the expected effects of the drug.

What is the primary purpose of evaluating crude drugs?

To ensure the identity, quality, and purity of drugs.

What are some reasons for the need to evaluate crude drugs?

Biochemical variation, effects of treatment and storage, and adulterations and substitutions.

What are the latest improvements suggested for enhancing drug quality?

Harvesting schedules, cultivation techniques, storage, activity, stability of active compounds, and product purity.

What are the methods currently employed in evaluating herbs?

Organoleptic, microscopic, physical, chemical, and biological parameters.

What does organoleptic evaluation involve?

The study of drugs using the organs of senses, including analysis of color, odor, taste, size, shape, and texture.

How can talka gum be distinguished from acacia gum?

Talka gum is usually broken and can be brown or colorless, while acacia gum is white to yellow.

What is a characteristic feature of mangosteen fruits that distinguishes them from bael fruits?

Darker outer skin and wedge-shaped radiate stigmas.

What is the significance of microscopic evaluation in herbal drug analysis?

It is essential for initial identification, detecting adulterants, and identifying plant tissue characteristics.

What staining method can be used to identify lignin in plant tissues?

Lignin stains red or pink with phloroglucinol and concentrated hydrochloric acid.

How does mucilage appear when stained with ruthenium red?

It stains pink.

What color does starch and hemicellulose turn when treated with iodine solution?

Blue.

What is a distinguishing feature of Surinam quassia in microscopic evaluation?

The absence of calcium oxalate crystals and presence of uniseriate medullary rays.

What are some examples of organoleptic characteristics used in evaluation?

Morphological differentiation of leaves, sweet taste of liquorice, and odors of umbelliferous fruits.

What is the color difference between blood root and hydrastis?

Blood root is dark reddish-brown, while hydrastis is yellow.

How can Rheum rhaponticum be distinguished from Chinese rhubarb?

Rheum rhaponticum is much smaller in size.

What are the morphological characteristics of nux vomica?

It has a disc-shaped structure.

What is the significance of identifying small fragments of crude herbs microscopically?

It helps in the detection of adulterants such as insects, animal feces, and mold.

What are some examples of the physical characteristics studied in microscopic evaluation?

Cell walls, cell contents, starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals, trichomes, fibers, and vessels.

What is the role of analytical methods in the quality of herbal preparations?

They lead to improvements in the quality of herbal preparations available in the market.

What is the importance of evaluating the stability of active compounds in herbal drugs?

It ensures the efficacy and safety of the herbal preparations.

What is the role of biological parameters in the evaluation of crude drugs?

They assess the biological activity and effects of the herbal preparations.

What is the significance of the initial visual examination in organoleptic evaluation?

It helps identify specific characteristics such as color and odor.

What distinguishes the taste of ginger and capsicum from gentian and chirata?

Ginger and capsicum have a pungent taste, while gentian and chirata have a bitter taste.

What are the microscopical features that distinguish Frangula bark from Cascara sagrada?

Frangula bark lacks sclereids, while Cascara sagrada contains them.

What is the significance of the presence of pith in rhizomes and its absence in roots?

The presence of pith in rhizomes and absence in roots can be used to differentiate between plant structures.

What does the powder of clove stalks contain that cloves do not?

The powder of clove stalks contains sclereids and calcium oxalate crystals, whereas cloves do not.

What techniques are used in the evaluation of crude drugs?

Microscopic linear measurements, determination of leaf constants, and quantitative microscopy.

What are microscopic linear measurements used to evaluate?

They measure the size of starch grains, length and width of fibers, and trichomes.

How does the diameter of starch grains assist in distinguishing varieties of ipecacuanha?

The diameter of starch grains helps differentiate between varieties of ipecacuanha.

What is the stomatal number?

The average number of stomata per square millimeter of the leaf epidermis.

How is the stomatal index calculated?

Stomatal Index (S.I.) = [S/(E + S)] X 100, where S is the number of stomata and E is the number of epidermal cells.