Plant Adulteration 🌿 Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is the definition of unorganized drugs?
Unorganized drugs do not have morphological or anatomical organization and include substances like gums, oleo gum resins, and dried extracts
Examples include aloe juices, black catechu, and alginic acid.
What are herbal medicines (HM)?
Preparations made from purely and naturally original plant substances that are responsible for the therapeutic effect
Herbal medicines consist of portions of plants or unpurified extracts containing several constituents.
According to the WHO, what does herbal medicine encompass?
Herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations, and finished herbal products containing active ingredients from plants
Active ingredients may include leaves, roots, bark, seeds, and flowers.
What percentage of the world population relies on traditional herbal medicine for primary health care?
80%
This highlights the significant role of herbal medicine globally.
What is the estimated market size of herbal medicine in 2020?
USD 98.60 Billion
The market is projected to reach USD 391.22 Billion by 2028.
What are organized drugs?
Drugs with cellular organization from plant sources, including seeds, bark, and roots
Examples include Cinchona bark and Rauwolfia roots.
Fill in the blank: Approximately _____ of synthetic medicines are derived from plants.
70%
This indicates the importance of plants in modern pharmacology.
What is adulteration in herbal medicine?
Intentional substitution or addition of inferior materials to increase weight or potency for profit
Adulteration can be intentional or unintentional.
What are some examples of intentional adulteration?
Addition of synthetic materials, substitution with inferior varieties, and use of exhausted materials
Examples include using paraffin wax to resemble beeswax.
What is the definition of crude drugs?
Products from plant and animal origins found in raw form, including pharmaceutical products made from raw minerals
Crude drugs can be classified as organized or unorganized.
What factors influence the presence and quantity of active principles in herbal drugs?
Plant species, time and season of harvest, type of soil, and method of preparation
These factors can significantly affect the efficacy of herbal medicines.
True or False: Herbal products often contain a single active ingredient.
False
Herbal products typically contain a variety of naturally-occurring biochemicals.
What are some common methods of evaluating adulteration in herbal medicines?
Morphological/organoleptic methods, microscopic evaluation, physical evaluation, and chemical evaluation
Biological evaluation methods may be used when other methods are insufficient.
What is the role of the Office of Alternative Medicine in the USA?
Established in 1989 to address the increased interest in medicinal plants
It is part of the National Institute of Health (NIH).
What is the difference between deliberate and undeliberate adulteration?
Deliberate adulteration involves intentional substitution or addition, while undeliberate adulteration occurs accidentally without bad intentions
Undeliberate adulteration can happen at any stage before the product reaches the market.
Fill in the blank: Herbal medicines can be _____, swallowed, drunk, inhaled, or applied topically.
eaten
This highlights the versatility of herbal medicine administration methods.
What are some examples of adulterants used in herbal drugs?
Limestone in asafoetida, lead shot in opium, synthetic benzyl benzoate in Balsam of Peru
These adulterants can be harmful and are often worthless non-plant materials.
What are the unique morphological and organoleptic characteristics used in evaluating crude drugs?
Size, shape, colour, odour, and taste
These characteristics help determine the authenticity of herbal products.
What are the senses involved in evaluating herbal drugs?
Smell, touch, sight, taste
The senses help in assessing the characteristics of herbal materials.
What are some examples of odours associated with herbal drugs?
Minty, moldy, rancid, fruity
These odours can indicate the quality and nature of the herbal material.
What are the taste categories for herbal drugs?
- Sweet (e.g., Honey vs. Liquorice)
- Bitter (e.g., Gentian vs. Chirata)
- Pungent (e.g., Ginger, Capsicum)
- Mucilaginous (e.g., Ispaghula)
Each taste can provide insights into the medicinal properties of the herbs.
How can the shape of herbal materials vary?
- Wavy (Rauwolfia)
- Disc (Nux vomica)
- Conical (Aconite)
- Quills (Cinnamon)
Shape is an important characteristic for identification.
What are some colour examples associated with herbal drugs?
- Brown (Cinnamon)
- Red (Capsicum)
- Light yellow (Ginger)
Colour can indicate freshness and quality.
What are the texture types of herbal drugs?
- Rough (Ipecacuanha powder)
- Fine (Ginger)
Texture can influence the preparation and effectiveness of herbal medicines.
