Classification of Crude Drugs

Objectives On completion of this period, you would be able to know: Alphabetical classification Taxonomical Classification Morphological classification Chemical classification Pharmacological classification of Crude Drugs

Crude Drugs As per D &C Act, 1940 a drug may be defined as All medicines for internal or external use of and all substances intended to be used for or in diagnosis, mitigation, treatment or prevention of diseases in human beings or animals OR Such substances other than food intended to affect the structure or any function of human body or intended to be used for the destruction of vermin or insects, which cause disease in human beings or animals as may be specified from time to time by the Central Government by notification in Official Gazette

Crude Drugs They are available in their original form of occurance Organised drugs are the organs of plants, solid, cellular in nature and identified by their microscopical characters. Ex. Cinnamon, Senna Unorganised drugs are the products of plants or animals, solid, semisolid or liquid in nature and are identified by chemical tests basing on the type of chemical constituents present in them Ex. Acacia, Honey, Castor oil

Pharmaceutical Aids The substances which are of little or no therapeutic value, but are essentially used in the manufacture or compounding of various pharmaceuticals are known as Pharmaceutical aids or Pharmaceutic necessities They may be obtained from Plants Pectin, Starch Animals Honey, Gelatin, Wool fat Minerals Kaolin, Talc

Pharmaceutical Aids They are also classified into Colouring agents : Caramel, Turmeric, Saffron Flavouring agents : Cardamom, lemon oil, Mentha oil Sweetening agents : Licorice, Honey Emulsifying and Suspending agents : Acacia, Agar, Bentonite, Gelatin Ointment bases : Bees wax, Lanolin, wool fat Diluents : Sesame oil, glucose, lactose Vehicles : Olive oil, Arachis oil Disintegrating agents : Starch, Ispagol husk Lubricants :Talc, Cocoa butter

Classification Of Natural Drugs Alphabetical Classification: In this system the crude drugs are arranged in alphabetical order This system is adopted by B.P., B.P.C., U.S.P. and I.P. Whereas in International Pharmacopoeia drugs are arranged according to Latin names.

Disadvantages Classification system does not help in Differentiating drugs of Plant, animal or mineral sources. Organized and unorganized drugs cannot be differentiated.

Taxonomical Classification Purely Botanical classification Crude drugs from plants are classified into Phylum, Order, Family, Genus and Species. Animal drugs classified as fishes, arthropods, mammals etc.,

Disadvantages It cannot differentiate organized and unorganized drugs. In most of the cases only plant part or product is used so it is of no significance from the point of view of identification.

Illustration of Taxonomical Classification Phylum Order Family________ Gymnosperms Gnetales Ephedraceae Angiosperms Canaveral's Papaveraceae Dicotyledons Rhamnales Rhamnaceae Angiosperms Lilifore Liliaceae

Chemotaxonomical Classification The chemical examination of several plants Phytochemical evaluation have established that there is Close link between their Chemical constituents and taxonomical status. Ex. Solanaceae family contains Tropane alkaloids Umbelliferae family contains Volatile oil Pinaceae family contains Oleo-resin

Morphological Classification In this system the crude drugs are classified according to their morphological characters like leaves, barks, seeds, fruits, roots, flowers etc., Advantages: Most convenient for practical purpose. Useful in identification of adulterants.

Morphological Classification Disadvantages:  It is difficult to classify unorganized drugs. Chemical composition and pharmacological behaviour of drugs cannot be characterized by this system. Processing of drugs like collection, drying and preparation for market may change their original characters making recognition quite difficult.

Illustration of Morphological Classification Part of plant Drugs___________________ Leaves Vasaka, Digitalis, Senna, Coca, Datura, Eucalyptus Barks Cinnamon, Cinchona, Cascara Ashoka, Arjuna Flowers Clove, Pyrethrum, Artemisia Seeds Linseed, Mustard Isapgol, Nux-vomica

Morphological Classification Fruits Dill, coriander, Bael Colocynth, Gokhru Roots Ipecacuanha, Rauwolfia, Aconite, Gentian Rhizomes Rhubarb, Male fern Turmeric, Ginger

Morphological Classification Bulbs Scilla Garlic Corns Colchicum Entire plants Ephedra ,Chirata Ergot , Belladonna Herb

Morphological Classification Woods Quassia Sandalwood Hairs & Fibres Cotton Jute Hemp

Unorganised Drugs Dried latex Opium Dried juice Aloe Dried extracts Agar, Catechu, Gelatin Gums Tragacanth, Acacia, Guar gum

Unorganised Drugs Resins and Resin combinations Colophony Benzoin Asafoetida Basam of Tolu Myrrh

Unorganised Drugs Fixed oils Castor oil, Arachis oil Fats Lard Chaulmoogra oil Fats Lard Waxes Wool Fat Bees Wax

Chemical Classification All plants and animals biosynthesize various chemical compounds like carbohydrates, proteins, fats etc., In addition to these essential chemicals living organisms produce several other chemicals and these chemical constituents possess pharmacological activity.

Advantages This classification gives logical reasoning to biological activities of crude drugs which are due to chemical constituents.

Disadvantages Drugs which contains two or more types of chemical constituents cannot get appropriate placement by this system.

Illustration of Chemical Classification Type of Components Examples Carbohydrates Gums Acacia, Guar gum Mucilages Ispagol Others Starch, Agar, Honey Cotton, Pectin

Glycosides Anthroquinone Aloe Cascara Senna Rhubarb

Cardiac glycosides Digitals Squill Strophanthus. Saponin glycosides Dioscorea Liquorice Quillaia

Cyanogenetic Wild cherry Bitter almond Isothiocyanate Mustard Gentian

Tannins Polyphenolic glycosides Ashoka, Amla Catechu, Myrobalan Volatile Oils Caraway Cardamom, Coriander, Dill, Fennel Clove, Nutmeg Eucalyptus, Lemon grass.

Lipids Fixed Oils Castor oil Fats Lanolin Waxes Beeswax Arachis Oil Sesame oil Fats Lanolin Wool fat Theobroma Waxes Beeswax Spermaceti

Resins and Resin combinations Resins Colophony Glycosidal resin Podophyllum Jalap Kaladana Oleo – resins Capsicum Ginger Oleo-gum resins Asafoetida Guggul Balsams Tolu balsam Benzoin, storax

Alkaloids Pyridine & Piperidine Tobacco Tropane Belladonna, Datura Hyoscyamus, Coca Purines Tea, Coffee Steroidal Kurchi Diterpenoid Aconite Phenanthrene Opium

Alkaloids Indole Ergot, Nux- vomica Rauwolfia Quinoline Cinchona Isoquinoline Opium, Ipecacuanha Amines Ephedra

Proteins Gelatin, Yeast Vitamins Yeast, Cod liver oil Shark liver oil, Amla Triterpenes Colocynth, Rasna

Pharmacological Classification In this system drugs are grouped together according to the therapeutic activity of their main chemical constituents.

Advantages Even if chemical constituents are not known Drugs can be grouped according to therapeutic utility.

Disadvantages Same drug having different actions, may be included in more than one category.

Illustration of Pharmacological Classification Pharmacological Action: Anticancer Vinca Anti Spasmodic Datura, belladonna Anti asthamatics Ephedra Anthelmintic Kurchi Anti amoebic Ipecac Astringents Catechu Anti diabetic Gymnema

Cardio tonics Digitalis, squill Carminatives Cinnamon, clove, fennel Expectorant Vasaka Laxatives Senna, Aloes Mydriatic Datura Oxytocic Ergot

Summary In this class we learnt about Alphabetical classification Taxonomical Classification Morphological classification Chemical classification Pharmacological classification of crude drugs

Quiz The classification method useful for practical purpose in Pharmacognosy a) Taxonomical b) Pharmacological c) Morphological d) Chemical

Questions Describe various systems of classification of crude drugs. Give the merits and demerits. (April 2006) Give an account of the different methods of classification of drugs giving their merits and demerits. (April 2005) How the crude drugs are evaluated by organoleptic characters physical methods and biological methods. (April 2004) Define the term crude drug. Mention the various drugs obtained from animals. (September 2002)