1. CRUDE DRUGS AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION

2. They may be obtained from vegetable, animal and mineral sources.
Sources of crude drugs
They may be obtained from vegetable, animal and mineral sources.
They form the subject matter of Pharmacognosy.

3. Pharmacognosy is concerned mainly with naturally occurring substances of medicinal importance.
It is, however, not entirely limited to such substances.

4. Others may include substances such as;
Surgical dressings prepared from natural fibres
Flavouring and suspending agents
Disintegrants

5. The term crude drug refers generally to products of plant and animal origin found usually in their raw state/form
The term may also apply to pharmaceutical products obtained from the mineral kingdom.

6. Definition of crude drug
Crude drugs may be defined as any natural product that has not been advanced in value or improved in condition by any process or treatment beyond that which is essential for its proper packing and prevention from deterioration.

7. Sources of crude drugs
The most important natural sources of drugs are;
Higher plants
Microbes
Animals
Marine organisms

8. Types of crude drugs
2 types exist depending on this type of classification;
Organized drugs
Unorganized drugs

9. Organized drugs
These are drugs obtained from the direct parts of the plants and containing cellular tissues
E.g. Rhizomes, barks, leaves, fruits, entire plants, hairs and fibres

10. Examples of organized drugs
Leaves– Digitalis, Eucalyptus, Mint, Senna, Spearmint, Squill, Tulsi, Vasaka, Coca, Buchu, Hyoscyamus, Belladonna, Tea.
Barks–Cascara, Cassia, Cinchona, Cinnamon, Quillia.
Flowering parts– Clove, Pyrethrum, Chamomile.

11. Fruits– Anise, Bitter Orange peel, Capsicum, Caraway, Cardamom, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Lemon peel, Star anise.
Seeds– Bitter almond, Black Mustard, Cardamom, Colchicum, Ispaghula,, Linseed, Nutmeg, Nux vomica.
Roots and Rhizomes– Colchicum corm, Dioscorea, Garlic, Ginger, Ginseng, Glycyrrhiza.

12. Unorganized drugs
These are drugs which are prepared from plants by some intermediate physical process such as incision, drying or extraction and not containing any cellular plant tissue
E.g. Aloe, honey, beeswax, essential oil

13. Differences between organized and unorganized drugs
These may be of plant or animal origin.
These may be of plant, animal or mineral origin.
These are direct part of plants or animals.
These are the product of plant or animals.
These have well defined cellular structure.
These do not have well defined cellular structure.
Generally identified by morphological character.
Generally identified by organoleptic properties.

14. Importance of crude drugs
Plant-derived medicines are useful therapeutic options and often provide a safe form of therapy.
Provide lead compounds for the development of new drugs.

15. classification Classification of crude drugs may include;
Alphabetical classification
Morphological classification
Pharmacological classification
Chemical classification
Taxonomic classification

16. Characteristics of an ideal system of classification
An ideal method of classification of crude drugs should be;
Simple
Easy to use
Free from confusion and ambiguities

17. 1. Alphabetical classification
Alphabetical classification is the simplest way of classification
Crude drugs are arranged in alphabetical order of their:
Botanical names
Common names
Local/ vernacular names

18. The following pharmacopoeia classify crude drugs according to this system:
British Pharmacopoeia
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia
Ghana Herbal Pharmacopoeia
United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary
European Pharmacopoeia

19. Advantages of alphabetical system of classification
It is easy and quick to use
There is no repetition of entries and is devoid of confusion.
In this system location, tracing and addition of drug entries is easy

20. Disadvantage
There is no relationship between previous and successive drug entries
E.g. Acacia, Benzoin, Cinchona, Dill, Ergot, Fennel, Gentian, Hyoscyamus, Ipecacuanha, Jalap, Kurchi, Liquorice, Mints, Nuxvomica, Opium, Podophyllum, Quassia, Rauwolfia, Senna, Vasaka, Wool fat, Yellow bees wax, Zeodary.

21. 2. Morphological classification
In this system, the drugs are arranged according to the morphological or external characters of the plant parts or animal parts.
i.e. which part of the plant is used as a drug e. g. leaves, roots, stem

22. 3. Pharmacological classification
This involves grouping of drug according to their pharmacological action.
This is also referred to as therapeutic classification of drugs.
Drugs like digitalis, squill and strophanthus having cardiotonic action are grouped together irrespective of their parts used or their phytoconstituents.

23. Classification of Drugs based on Pharmacological action
Anticancer
Vinca, Podophyllum, Taxus
Anti-inflammatory
Colchicum, Turmeric
Antiamoebic
Ipecac root, Kurchi bark
Antiasthmatic
Ephedra, Lobelia
Anthelminthic
Male fern, Quassia wood
Antispasmodic
Datura, Hyoscyamus
Astringent
Catechu
Analgesic
Opium, poppy
Bitter tonic
Quassia wood, Nux-vomica, Gentian
Carminatives
Coriander, fennel, clove, peppermint
Purgatives
Senna, Rhubarb
Expectorant
Tulsi, Balsam of Tolu
Cardiotonic
Digitalis, Squill, Strophanthus
Tranquilizers
Rauwolfia Roots

24. ADVANTAGE
This system of classification can be used for suggesting substitutes of drugs if they are not available at a particular place or point of time.
DISADVANTAGE
Drugs having different action on the body gets classified separately in more than one group that causes ambiguity and confusion.
E.g. Cinchona is an antimalarial drug because of presence of quinine but can be put under the group of drug affecting heart because of antiarrythymic action of quinidine.

25. Chemical Classification
The crude drugs are divided into different groups according to the chemical nature of their relevant constituent.
The chemical classification of drugs is dependent upon the grouping of drugs with identical constituents.

26. Chemical classification
Carbohydrates
Gums - Acacia, Tragacanth, Guargum
Mucilages - Plantago seed
Others include Starch, Honey, Agar, Pectin, Cotton

27. 2. Glycosides Anthraquinone Glycosides - Aloe, Cascara, Rhubarb, Senna
Saponins Glycosides - Quillaia, Arjuna, Glycyrrhiza
Cyanogenetic Glycosides - Cassava
Isothiocyanate Glycosides - Mustard
Cardiac Glycosides - Digitalis, Strophantus

28. 3. Tannins
Tannins are astringent, bitter plant based polyphenols that either bind or precipitate proteins.
The astringency from tannins causes a dry and puckery feeling in the mouth.
E.g.- Guava, Tea

29. 4. Volatile oils Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes obtained from plants.
Examples- Cinnamon, Fennel, Dill, Caraway, Coriander, Cardamom, Orange peel, Mint, Clove

30. 5. Lipids Fixed oils – Castor, Olive, Almond, Shark liver oil
Fats – Theobroma, Lanolin
Waxes – Beeswax, Spermaceti

31. 6. alkaloids Nitrogenous substances of plant origin
Pyridine and Piperidine – Lobelia, Nicotiana
Tropane - Coca, Belladonna, Datura, Stramonium, Hyoscyamus, Henbane
Quinoline – Cinchona

32. Isoquinoline – Opium, Ipecac, Calumba
Indole – Ergot, Rauwolfia
Amines – Ephedra
Purine bases – Tea, coffee

33. Taxonomic classification
Based on an accepted system of system of botanical classification
Grouped into:
Kingdom
Phylum
Order
Family
Genus
Species

34. Allows for precise and ordered arrangement of drugs.
Advantages
Allows for precise and ordered arrangement of drugs.
Accommodates any drug without ambiguity

35. Major plant drugs currently used in medicine
PLANT SOURCE
USE(S)
Vinblastine
Catharanthus roseus
Anticancer
Reserpine
Rauvolfia serpentina
Antipsychoyic, antihypertensive
Quinine
Cinchona sp.
Antimalarial,
amoebic dysentery
Pilocarpine
Pilocarpus jaborandi
Antiglucoma
Cocaine
Erythroxylum coca
Topical anesthetic

36. Breast and ovarian cancer
DRUG
PLANT SOURCE
USE(S)
Codeine
Papaver somniferum
Antitussive
Atropine
Atropa belladonna
Spasmolytic
Artemisinin
Artemesia annua
Antimalarial
Taxol
Taxus baccata,
T. brevifolia
Breast and ovarian cancer
Allicin
Allium sativum
Antifungal, amoebiasis
Morphine
Narcotic analgesic

37. Medical terminologies
Arthritis -Inflammation of a joint
Ascites -Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
Asphyxia -Inability to breath
Atrophy -Wasting of a tissue or organ
Carcinogenic- Causing cancer

38. Medical terminologies
Carcinoma- A malignant epithelial tumour eventually becoming fatal
Cardiotonic- An agent that has a stimulating effect on the heart; increasing the strength and tone of the heart.
Cardiac depressant- Slowing the action of the heart
Carminative Drug- causing the release of stomach or intestinal gas

39. Medical terminologies
Cathartic -Having the power of cleaning the bowels-purgative
Decongestant - Relieving congestion, as of the mucous membrane
Demulcent – Soothing action on inflammed mucous membranes
Dermatitis - Irritation or inflammation of the skin

40. Medical terminologies
Diuretic - Promoting the flow of urine
Dysmenorrhoea - Difficult or painful menstruation
Dyspepsia – Difficulty in digestion
Dysuria - Difficulty or pain while passing urine
Emetic -Causing vomiting

41. Medical terminologies
Expectorant - Aiding the secretion of the mucous membrane of the air passages and the removal of fluid
Febrifuge - Anything which reduces fever
Haematemesis - Vomiting of blood
Haematuria - The presence of blood in the urine
Heamatinic: Therapeutic agent that causes increase in the heamoglobin content of the blood.

42. Medical terminologies
Insomnia: Difficulty in sleeping or staying asleep.
Mydriatic: Drug that causes dilatation of the pupil.
Sternutatory: a substance that causes sneezing
Vermifuge: a remedy that causes expulsion of worms or parasites.
Xerostomia: Anbormal dryness of the mouth