LEC - 3 - Sources of Drugs

Question 1

The origins from which drugs are derived, including natural sources (plants, animals, microorganisms, and minerals), semi-synthetic, synthetic, and recombinant DNA technology.

Answer 1

Sources of Drugs

Question 2

Natural Sources of Drugs:

Answer 2

Plants
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
Seeds
Bark
Animals
Minerals

Question 3

The oldest source of drugs, used empirically. Drugs are derived from leaves, seeds, flowers, roots, bark, etc.

Answer 3

Plants

Question 4

Disadvantages for plants:

Answer 4

plant identification
climatic and social conditions
season of collection
storage conditions
Standardization
purity of active ingredients.

Question 5

Examples of Medicinal Leaves:

Answer 5

Digitalis purpurea
Eucalyptus
Tobacco
Atropa belladonna

Question 6

Source of digitoxin and digoxin (cardiac glycosides).

Answer 6

Digitalis purpurea:

Question 7

Source of eucalyptus oil (used in cough syrups).

Answer 7

Eucalyptus:

Question 8

Source of nicotine.

Answer 8

Tobacco:

Question 9

Source of atropine.

Answer 9

Atropa belladonna:

Question 10

Examples of Medicinal Flowers:

Answer 10

Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Vinca rosea
Rose

Question 11

Source of morphine (opioid).

Answer 11

Poppy (Papaver somniferum):

Question 12

Source of vincristine and vinblastine (anti-neoplastic drugs).

Answer 12

Vinca rosea:

Question 13

Source of rose water (used as a tonic).

Answer 13

Rose:

Question 14

anti-neoplastic drugs

Answer 14

vincristine and vinblastine

Question 15

Examples of Medicinal Fruits:

Answer 15

Senna pod
Calabar beans

Question 16

Source of anthracene (purgative used for constipation).

Answer 16

Senna pod:

Question 17

Source of physostigmine (cholinomimetic agent used in treating glaucoma and anticholinergic toxicity).

Answer 17

Calabar beans:

Question 18

purgative used for constipation

Answer 18

anthracene

Question 19

cholinomimetic agent used in treating glaucoma and anticholinergic toxicity

Answer 19

physostigmine

Question 20

Examples of Medicinal Seeds:

Answer 20

Nux vomica
Castor oil seed

Question 21

Source of strychnine (CNS stimulant).

Answer 21

Nux vomica

Question 22

Source of castor oil.

Answer 22

Castor oil seed

Question 23

CNS stimulant

Answer 23

strychnine

Question 24

Examples of Medicinal Roots

Answer 24

Ipecacuanha
Rauwolfia serpentina

Question 25

Source of emetine (used to induce vomiting and has amoebicidal properties).

Answer 25

Ipecacuanha

Question 26

Source of reserpine (hypotensive agent used for hypertension

Answer 26

Rauwolfia serpentina

Question 27

used to induce vomiting and has amoebicidal properties).

Answer 27

emetine

Question 28

hypotensive agent used for hypertension

Answer 28

reserpine

Question 29

Examples of Medicinal Bark:

Answer 29

Cinchona Atropa belladonna Hyoscyamus niger

Question 30

Source of quinine and quinidine (antimalarial and antiarrhythmic drugs).

Answer 30

Cinchona

Question 31

Source of atropine (anticholinergic).

Answer 31

Atropa belladonna

Question 32

Source of hyoscine (anticholinergic).

Answer 32

Hyoscyamus niger

Question 33

anticholinergics

Answer 33

atropine hyoscine

Question 34

Medicines derived from animals

Answer 34

gonadotropins heparin insulin thyroid extract

Question 35

Medicines derived from microorganisms

Answer 35

penicillin streptomycin tetracycline chloramphenicol erythromycin

Question 36

Medicines derived from minerals

Answer 36

iron calcium magnesium aluminum sodium potassium sulfur lithium

Question 37

for treating iron deficiency anemia

Answer 37

iron

Question 38

for syphilis

Answer 38

mercurial salts

Question 39

as a supplement

Answer 39

zinc

Question 40

as an antiseptic

Answer 40

iodine

Question 41

for rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 41

gold salts

Question 42

for antiseptic properties

Answer 42

fluorine

Question 43

for anti-dandruff shampoos.

Answer 43

selenium

Question 44

Drugs where the nucleus from a natural source is retained, but the chemical structure is altered. These are often complex, expensive, and derived from impure natural compounds

Answer 44

Semi-Synthetic Drugs

Question 45

Examples of Semi-Synthetic Drugs

Answer 45

semi-synthetic human insulin from pork insulin, 6-aminopenicillanic acid from fungus

Question 46

Drugs synthesized in pharmaceutical laboratories from organic, inorganic, or both types of compounds

Answer 46

Synthetic Drugs

Question 47

Examples of Synthetic Drugs

Answer 47

chloroform ether nitrous oxide chloral hydrate antipyretics sulphonamides antihistamines anticonvulsants anti-anxiety drugs

Question 48

A process involving gene cloning, where DNA is cleaved by enzyme restriction endonucleases, and the desired gene is coupled to rapidly replicating DNA (viral, bacterial, or plasmid).

Answer 48

Recombinant DNA Technology

Question 49

Examples of Recombinant DNA Technology

Answer 49

human insulin growth hormone tissue plasminogen activator vaccines interferon erythropoietin interleukins granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.

Question 50

Advantages of Recombinant DNA Technology

Answer 50

Large quantities of drugs can be produced in pure form with less antigenicity.

Question 51

Disadvantages of Recombinant DNA Technology

Answer 51

Requires a well-equipped laboratory, highly trained staff, and is a complex and complicated technique.