BP105T Unit 2 – Cultivation, Collection, Processing & Storage of Crude Drugs
Unit 2 covers the systematic classification methodologies for thousands of crude drugs: Alphabetical, Morphological (Organized vs. Unorganized drugs), Taxonomical, Chemical (Alkaloids, Glycosides, Tannins, Volatile Oils), Pharmacological / Therapeutic, Chemotaxonomical, and Serotaxonomical schemes with their respective merits and limitations.
📋 Prescribed Syllabus Topics
📖 Detailed Lecture Notes & Solved Examples
11. Morphological Classification: Organized vs. Unorganized Crude Drugs
Dedicated Webpage➔Morphological classification organizes crude drugs based on the physical plant/animal organ or anatomical part represented. Crude drugs are fundamentally divided into two major classes: (1) Organized Drugs (Cellular drugs) — direct cellular anatomical parts of plants/animals (e.g. roots, barks, leaves, flowers, seeds, woods) displaying well-defined microscopic cellular histology (stomata, trichomes, xylem vessels), and (2) Unorganized Drugs (Acellular drugs) — non-cellular derived substances obtained through extraction, incisions, distillation, or exudation (e.g. dried juices, latex, extracts, gums, resins, fixed oils, volatile oils, waxes) displaying no cellular histological organization.Organized Drugs wo hain jo paudhe ka seedha cellular organ hote hain jaise Pattiyan (Senna, Digitalis), Chhaal (Cinchona, Cinnamon), aur Jadh (Rauwolfia). Inme microscope me cells dikhte hain. Unorganized Drugs wo hain jo paudhe se nikale gaye liquid/juice/gond hote hain jaise Opium latex, Acacia gum, aur Clove oil, inme cells nahi hote.
▶Comprehensive Morphological Catalog of Organized and Unorganized Drugs
Anatomical categories with official pharmaceutical examples.
| Morphological Class | Cellular Structure? | Extraction / Preparation Method | Representative Pharmacopoeial Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves (Organized) | Yes (Epidermis, stomata, mesophyll) | Harvested, garbled, shade-dried | Digitalis, Senna, Vasaka, Belladonna |
| Barks (Organized) | Yes (Cork, cortex, phloem, fibers) | Stripped from tree trunks/branches | Cinchona, Cinnamon, Arjuna, Kurchi |
| Roots/Rhizomes (Organized) | Yes (Vascular bundles, xylem, starch) | Excavated, washed, dried | Rauwolfia, Ginger, Glycyrrhiza, Ipecac |
| Dried Juices / Latex (Unorganized) | No (Acellular amorphous solid) | Incision of plant organ -> Evaporation | Opium (latex), Aloe (inspissated juice) |
| Gums (Unorganized) | No (Acellular hydrocolloids) | Exudation after plant trauma/injury | Acacia gum, Tragacanth, Karaya gum |
| Resins (Unorganized) | No (Acellular lipophilic mixture) | Secretory cavities / solvent extraction | Asafoetida, Benzoin, Myrrh, Colophony |
- •Organized Drugs: Have direct anatomical cellular structure; evaluated by microscopic transverse section (T.S.).
- •Unorganized Drugs: Acellular secretions or extracts; evaluated by chemical solubility, refractive index, and specific gravity tests.
- •Advantage of Morphological Scheme: Very practical for field collection and quick visual identification of plant parts.
22. Chemical, Pharmacological & Chemotaxonomical Classification Schemes
Dedicated Webpage➔In the Chemical Classification, crude drugs are categorized based on their primary active secondary metabolite class (Alkaloids, Glycosides, Tannins, Volatile oils, Lipids, Carbohydrates). In the Pharmacological / Therapeutic Classification, drugs are grouped according to their predominant clinical therapeutic action (e.g. Cardiotonics, Purgatives, Antihypertensives). Chemotaxonomy correlates chemical phytoconstituents with botanical plant families (e.g., Tropane alkaloids in Solanaceae, Umbelliferous volatile oils in Apiaceae).Chemical classification me drugs ko unke active chemical ke hisaab se baanta jata hai (Alkaloids jaise Vinca/Rauwolfia, Glycosides jaise Digitalis/Senna, Tannins jaise Catechu/Arjuna, Volatile Oils jaise Clove/Peppermint). Pharmacological classification me unke ilaaj ke hisaab se baanta jata hai (Cardiotonics = Digitalis, Purgatives = Senna).
▶Chemical Classification of Major Natural Drug Classes
Grouping drugs by active phytochemical scaffold.
- •Chemical Scheme Merit: Pharmacologically meaningful because chemical structure dictates therapeutic activity and assay method.
- •Pharmacological Scheme Merit: Directly useful for clinicians and pharmacists prescribing by medical indication.
- •Chemotaxonomy: Uses presence of specific biomarkers (e.g., Betalains vs Anthocyanins) to establish phylogenetic evolutionary lineage.
- In a 10-mark question, classify crude drugs into Organized vs Unorganized with 5 distinct anatomical sub-classes and official examples each.
- Compare Chemical vs Pharmacological classification schemes with merits and limitations.