Classification of crude drugs

In order to pursue (or to follow) the study of the individual drugs, one must adopt some particular sequence of arrangement, and this is referred to as a system of classification of drugs.

1. Mr . OP Verma , M . Pharm . Associate Professor ( Dept. of Pharmacognosy ) Goel Institute of Pharmacy and Sciences Lucknow CLASSIFICATION OF CRUDE DRUGS

2. Crude drugs may be derived from various natural sources like plants, animals, minerals and marine organisms etc. In order to pursue (or to follow) the study of the individual drugs, one must adopt some particular sequence of arrangement, and this is referred to a system of classification of drugs. A method of classification should be: (a) simple, (b) easy to use, (c) free from confusion and ambiguities. Because of their wide distribution, each arrangement of classification has its own merits and demerits, but for the purpose of study the drugs are classified in the following different ways:  Classification of crude drugs

3. Because of their wide distribution the arrangement of classification in a definite sequence is necessary to understand easily. Although each system of classification has its own merits and demerits, but for the purpose of study the drugs are classified in the following different ways: Alphabetical classification Morphological classification Taxonomical classification Pharmacological classification Chemical classification Chemo-taxonomical classification

4. 1 . Alphabetical classification The crude drugs are arranged according to the alphabetical order/form of their Latin and English names. Some of the Pharmacopoeias and reference books which classify crude drugs according to this system are as follows.

5. Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 1955 (Latin) Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 1966 (English) British Pharmacopoeia (BP) (English) British Pharmacopoeia Codex (BPC) (English) United States of Pharmacopoeia (USP) (English) European Pharmacopoeia (Latin)

6. Examples: Acacia , Benzoin , Cinchona, Dill, Ergot, Fennel, Gentian, Hyoscyamus , Ipecacuanha , Jalap, Kurchi , Liquorice , Mints, Nux vomica , Opium, Podophyllum , Quassia , Rauwolfia , Senna , Vasaka , Wool fat, Yellow bees wax, Zeodary etc.

7. Advantages: It i s s i m p l e m e th o d, i n thi s s y s te m l o c a t ion , t r a c i n g a n d addition of the drug is easy, No technical person is required for handling the system. Disadvantages: Scientific nature of the drug cannot be identified by this method, whether they are organised or unorganised drug. This system does not help in distinguishing the drugs of plant, animal and mineral source. (Original source is not clear)

8. 2. Morphological classification: Here the crude a c c o r d i ng to t he drugs p a r t a r e ar r an ge d ( G r ou p ed) o f t h e p lan t o r a n i mal r ep r e s e n t e d in to o r g an i s e d ( C e l l u l ar ) d r ug s an d unorganised ( Acellular ) drugs. Organised (Cellular): Drugs are the direct parts of the plant and are divided into leaves, barks wood, root, rhizome, seed, fruit, flower, stem, hair and fibers.

9. Unorganised ( Acellular): Drugs are the products of plant, animal and mineral source and they are divided into dried latex, dried juice, dried extracts, gums, resins, fixed oils and fats, waxes, volatile oil, animal products, minerals (Solids, liquids, semi solids etc).

10. Plant parts Leaves Barks Wood Roots R h i z o m es Flowers Seeds Fruits Stems Hair and Fibres Drugs Datura, Senna, Vasaka, Digitalis, Cinnamon, Cinchona, Kurchi, Quassia, Sandalwood, Red sanders Rauwolfia, Liquorice, Ipecac Ginger, Podophyllum, Turmeric Clove, Saffron, Pyrethrum N u x vo m i ca, L i n s e e d , I s a pgo l Fennel, Coriander, Dill Ephedra Cotton, Hemp, Jute Organised drugs (Plant) (Cellular drugs)

11. Plant, animal, Mineral D r u gs Dried latex Opium, Papain Dried Juice Aloe, Kino Dried extracts Agar, Catechu, Pectin Gums R e sins Acacia, Tragacanth, Stericulia Benzoin, Colophony, Asafoetida Fixed oils and fats Castor , Chaulmoogra, Cotton seed W ax e s Beeswax, Spermaceti Volatile oils Coriander, Cinnamon, Clove Animal products Bees wax, Shark liver oil, Gelatin Minerals Bentonite, Kaolin, Talc Unorganised drugs ( Acellular drugs )

12. Advantages: This system of classification is more convenient for practical study especially when the chemical nature of the drug is not clearly understood . This type of classification is very useful in identifying the adulterants used. Disadvantages: It does not give an idea about biological source, chemical constituents and uses. W he n d i ff e r e n t p a r t s o f t he p l an t c o n ta i n d i f f e r e nt chemical constituents, it is difficult to classify them.

13. 3. Chemical classifications of crude drugs Here, the crude drugs are divided into different groups according to the chemical nature of their most important constituent present in the drug to which the pharmacological/therapeutic activity of drug is attributed.

14. Chemical constituents Dr u g s Alkaloids Glycosides Tannins Volatile oil Lipids Carbohydrates and derived products Resins Vitamins & hormones Proteins & enzymes Datura, Vasaka, Vinca, Lobelia Cascara, Senna, Digitalis Catechu, Myrobalan, Ashoka Clove, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon Castor oil, Beeswax, Arachis oil Acacia, Agar, Honey, Linseed Tragacanth, Starch Colophony, Benjoin, Yeast, Shark liver oil, Insulin Gelatin, Papain,

15. Advantages : Chemical constituents are known, Medicinal uses are known Disadvantages : Drugs of different origin are grouped under similar chemical titles. This type of classification makes no proper placement of drugs containing two different types of chemicals. Eg: Certain drugs are found to contain alkaloids and glycosides (Cinchona), Fixed oil and volatile oil (Nutmeg) of equal importance together and hence it is difficult to categorize them properly

16. 4 . T a x o n o m i c a l c l a s si f i c a t i o n of c r ude drugs In this system the drug are arranged according to taxonomical studies. The drugs are arranged according to their phylum, order, family, genus and species. It is purely a type of botanical classification or biological classification and restricted mainly to crude drugs from plant source.

17. Kingdom: Plantae Clade : Tracheophytes Clade : Angiosperms Clade : Monocots Clade : Commelinids Order: Zingiberales Family: Zingiberaceae Genus: Zingiber Species: Zingiber officinale Taxonomic classification of ginger

18. Phylum Angiosperms (M on o co t y led o n s ) Order Liliflorae Microspermae Family L i liaccae D io sc o r i ac e ae Drugs Colchicum, Asparagus Dioscorea, Vanilla Angiosperms ( D i c o t y ledo n s ) Papaverales Papaveraceae O p i u m Ro s a l es Rut ales Rosales L eg u m i n a c eae Rutaceae Almond, Rose oil G l y c y ri h iza , Senna Bael,Lemon, Orange Rhamnales Malvales U m b el l i f l o r ae Rhamnaceae Malvaceae U m b el l i f e r ae Gentianales Loganiaceae Gentianceae A p oc y anace a e C ascar a Cotton Co r i a n de r , C ara w a y , Fennel N u x v o m i ca Chirata Kurchi, Strophanthus

19. Advantages: Easy for the classification of crude drugs Disadvantages: The system is criticized for its failure to recognize the organised / unorganised nature of crude drugs in their morphological studies. The system fails to face into an account chemical nature of active constituent and therapeutic significance of crude drugs. The drugs obtained from plants having alternate leaves, flowers, seeds, capsules (Hyocyamus, Datura, Bellodonna, Stromonium) are considered with other members of solanaceae.

20. 6 . P h a r m a c olog i c a l c l a ssi f i c a t i on o f c r ude dr • ugs: H e r e , t h e c r ud e d r u g s a r e g r o u pe d a c c o r d i ng t o pharmacological action (Therapeutic action) of their chief active constituent (most important) or therapeutic uses.

21. Bitter Carminatives Emetics Anti-amoebic Bulk Laxatives Purgatives - - - - - - Quassia, Cinchona, Gentian Dill, Clove, Fennel, Coriander Ipecac Kurchi, Ipecac Agar, Isapgol Senna, Castor oil Expectorant Antitussive Bronchodilators - - - Liquorice, Vasaka, Ipecac Opium Ephedra, Tea Cardio- tonics - Digitalis, Squill, Stropanthus

22. Cardiac depressant Antihypertensive Cinchona, Veratrum Rauwolfia Central analgesics CNS stimulants CNS depressants • • • • • Antispasmodics Anticancer A n ti rh eu m a t i cs Anthelmintics Astringents Antimalarials Local anesthetics Opium Coffee Opium Bellodonna Vinca, Podophyllum, Cochicum Aconite, Guggul, Colchicum Vidang, Quassia, Malefern Catechu. Cinchona, Artemisia. Coca

23. Advantages The special advantage is that if even chemical constituents of the crude drugs are not known they can be classified properly on the basis of therapeutic or pharmacological uses. Disadvantages Regardless of morphology, taxonomical status or chemical nature, the drugs are grouped together, provided they exhibit similar pharmacological uses. Eg: Senna, Castor oil, Jalap, Colocynth are grouped together as purgatives/laxatives because of their common pharmacological action.

24. 6 . Chemo- taxonomical classification of crude drugs In this system of classification, the equal importance is given for taxonomical status and chemical constituents. There are certain types of chemical constituents which are characteristics of certain classes of plants. Eg: Tropane alkaloids generally occur in most of the members of Solanaceae Eg: Volatile oils occur in the members of Umbelliferae and Rutaceae.

25. Question bank 1. Define crude drug 2 marks 2. Name the various methods of classification of crude drugs. 2 marks 3. What do you mean by organised ( Cellular) and unorganised ( Acellular ) crude drugs give examples 5 marks 4. Describe morphological classification of crude drugs with examples 5 marks 5. Explain chemical classification of crude drugs with examples 5 marks 6.Explain chemical classification of crude drugs with

26. 7 . Exp l a i n ph ar m aco l o g i c a l o r t h e rap e ut i c c la ss i f i c a t i on of crude drugs with examples 5 marks 8. Write in detail alphabetical and taxonomical or botanical classification of crude drugs 5 marks 9. Define chemotaxonomy. Give its significances or importance's 5 marks 10. Explain the differences between organised and unorganised crude drugs. 5 marks 11. Define crude drug. Explain various methods of classification of crude drugs with examples 10 marks