Classification of crude drugs.pptx

Useful for D.Pharm / B.Pharm / Pharm.D

1. Miss.Gayatri Patra Asst.professor EPCP, Bangalore

2. The crude drugs are arranged according to the alphabetical order of their Latin and English names. Some of the Pharmacopoeias and reference books which classify crude drugs according to this system are as follows:- 1) Indian Pharmacopoeia 2) British Pharmacopoeia 3) British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 4) United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary 5) British Pharmaceutical Codex 6) European Pharmacopoeia. Example :- Acacia, Ergot, Fennel, Myrrh, Nux vomica, Opium, Bees wax, Cinchona. Merits :- The system is easily and quick use. Location, tracking and adding drugs entries can be done easily Demerits :- Scientific nature of the drug cannot be identified by this method, whether they are organized or unorganized drug.

3. This drugs are classified according to plants (crude drugs) or animals from which they are obtained in phylum, division, orders, families, genera, species, subspecies, etc. Merits:- Easy for the classification of crude drugs. Demerits :- It fails to recognized organized & unorganized 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. Phylum Spermatophyta Division Angiospermae Class Dicotyledons Order Rosales Family Leguminosae Sub-family Papilionaceae Genus Glycyrrhiza, Astragalus Species Glycyrrhiza glabra, Astragalus gummifer

4. The crude drugs are grouped according to the part of the plant or animal represented in to organized and unorganized drugs. TYPE OF CRUDE DRUGS EXAMPLES ORGANISED DRUGS Represent the parts of a plant and made up of cells. Fruits :- Coriander, Fennel Leaves :- Vasaka , Datura, Senna, Degitalis Bark :- Cinchona, Cinnamon Seed :- Nux -Vomica, Isapghula Root : -Rauwolfia, Liquorice Flower :- Clove, Saffrone UNORGANISED DRUGS Does not contain plant part, but it is obtained by varieties of extraction procedures. Dried Extracts :- Agar, Black catechu, Pale catechu Fats :- Lard Resins :- Colophony, jalap Waxes :- Beeswax Gum :- Acacia, Tragacanth

5. Merits:- Identification and detection of adulteration using this system is not difficult. Practical study by this classification is more. Demerits:- The chemical constituents have not correlation with the therapeutics action. Repetition of drugs or plants may appear.

6. The crude drugs are divided into different groups according to the chemical nature of their most important constituent. Since, the pharmacological activity and therapeutic significance of crude drugs are based on the nature of their chemical constituents, it would appear that chemical classification of crude drugs is the preferred method of study. Few examples of the drugs under chemical classification are as follows : Glycosides :- Digitalis, Senna, Liquorice Alkaloids :- Nux vomica, Ergot, Cinchona, Datura Tannins :- Myrobalan, Pale catechu, Ashoka Volatile oils :- Peppermint, Clove, Garlic Merits:- Phytochemical studies are well performed through this system Demerits :- Confusion occurs when a drug contain many compounds belonging to different groups

7. This system of classification involves the grouping of crude drugs according to the pharmacological action of their chief active constituent or their therapeutic uses. 1.Drugs acting on gastro-intestinal tract :- Bitters – Cinchona, Quassia Carminatives – Dill, Cardamom Emetics – Mustard, Ipecacuanha Purgatives – Senna, Castor oil B ulk laxatives – Agar, Ispaghula

8. 2.Drugs acting on respiratory system :- Expectorant – Liquorice, Ipecacuanha, Vasaka Antiexpectorants – Stramonium leaves (Atropine) Antitussives – Opium Bronchodilators – Ephedra, Tea 3.Drugs acting on cardio-vascular system :- Cardio tonics – Digitalis, Squill Card iac depressants – Cinchona Antihypertensives - Rauwolfia

9. 4.Drugs acting on autonomic nervous system :- Adrenergics – Ephedra Cholinergics – Pilocarpus Anticholinergics – Belladonna, Datura 5.Drugs acting on central nervous system :- Central analgesics – Opium(Morphine) CNS Stimulants – Coffee(Caffeine), Tea, Cocoa CNS depressants – Belladonna 6.Anticancer :- Vinca, podophyllum. 7.Local Anaesthetics :- Coca Merits:- The classification system aids in recommending substituents of an unavailable drugs Demerits:- Drugs with different action on the body get classified into many groups thus create confusion.

10. Chemotaxonomy is a branch of taxonomy that uses the chemical characteristics of organisms, particularly the presence and concentration of specific chemical compounds, as a basis for classification. In the context of crude drugs, which are plant or animal materials used for medicinal purposes in their unrefined form, chemotaxonomy can provide insights into their classification based on their chemical constituents. 1.Alkaloids: Many plants contain alkaloids, nitrogen-containing compounds that often have pharmacological effects. Examples include morphine, quinine, and caffeine. 2.Glycosides: Glycosides are compounds containing a sugar molecule and a non-sugar component (aglycone). Examples include cardiac glycosides found in Digitalis species.

11. 3.Essential Oils: Essential oils are volatile compounds responsible for the characteristic aroma of plants. They often have medicinal properties. Examples include menthol from mint and eucalyptol from eucalyptus. 4.Tannins: Tannins are polyphenolic compounds that can have astringent properties. They are found in many plant species, such as in the bark of some trees. Merits :- This classification system is recent and provide better understanding of the relation ship between chemical constituents , their biosynthesis and action Demerits :- It is complex to recognize the chemical in plants Hence it is also a time consuming process