Pharmacognosy

Pharmacognosy, Crude drugs classification, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Unani, Siddha

1. Diploma in Pharmacy
2
nd
Year

2. Introduction
Pharmacognosy is the study of the medicinal uses of crude
drugs obtained from plants and natural resources.
Crude drugs are the dried, raw materials of plant, animal or
mineral origin, used for the medicinal purpose.
The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines
Pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical,
biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug
substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural
origin as well as the search for new drugs from natural
sources".

3. The term Pharmacognosy comes from two
Greek words: "pharmakon" meaning drug or
medicine, and "gnosis" meaning knowledge.
The term "pharmacognosy" was used for the
first time by the Austrian physician Schmidt in
1811 and 1815 by Seydler in a work
titled Analecta Pharmacognostica.

4. History of Pharmacognosy
The Babylonians were aware of the Medicinal effects of a
number of plants.
Ancient Egyptians possessed a sound knowledge of
human anatomy as well as a knowledge of the medicinal
uses of many plants and animals.
Papyrys Ebers- written in 1550 B.C. (16th century) &
discovered in a tomb of a mummy contain more than
800 formula & 700 different drug.
In India, the study of the drugs was started about 5000
years ago at the time of the Vedas. Ayrurvedic system
(1200 B.C. Ago list with 127 plants.) Charaka, 50 grups of
10 herbs each for illness.(Charak Samhita) Sushruta, 7
groups of 760 herbs based on properties of plants.
(Sushruta Samhita)
Hippocrates (460 - 370 B.C.) deals with anatomy and
physiology in many of his treatises.“Father of Medicine”

6. Egyptians (Ebers papyrus, 1550 BC)

7. Authors of antiquity
Hippocrates (460-377 BC)
“The Father of Medicine”

8. Dioscorides (40-80 AD)
“De Materia Medica” (600 medicinal plants)

9. Aristotle (384 - 322 B.C.), the great philosopher
wrote much about the animal kingdom and his
writings were placed on scientific footing free from
all superstitions.
Theophrastus (370-287 B.C.) wrote about plants
and described medicinal uses of plants.
Dioscorides a Greek physician of the1st Century
A.D. was the writer of the first Materia Medica (40-
80 A.D.) Here he described 600 medicinal plants,
including Belladona, Colchicum, Opium,
Hyoscyamus, etc.
C.A. Seydler, German scientist, a medical student at
Halle, Germany in 1815; wrote his doctoral thesis
titled Analectica Pharmacognostica.
Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778) classified the plant
& introduced the system of naming the plant known
as binomial system.

10. Galen (131 -200 A.D.) the first Pharmacist, who
described the method of preparing drugs of
vegetable and animal origin and laid down
many formulas contained in a treatise(thesis) of
20 volumes.
Plant Classification was developed by Benthan
& Hooker (1862 – 1863), A.W. Eichler (1883),
Engler & Prandtl (1887 – 1898)
 In 1865, G. Mendel’s important observation on
plant hybrids
In Nepal ‘Chandra Nighantu’ a herbal
pharmacopoeia of 278 medicinal plants was
initiated by Rana Prime Minister.

11. Scope of Pharmacognosy
1. ISOLATION OF PHYTOCHEMICALS
Glycosides from digitalis leaves,
Alkaloids from the plants of Belladonna, Hyocyamus, Rauwlofia
Morphine and other alkaloids from the plant opium
2. STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP
Tubocurarine and Toxiferine from curare plant have muscle relaxant
properties because of quaternary ammonium groups.
The hypotensive and tranquillizing actions of reserpine are due to the
trimethoxy benzoic acid
3. DRUGS OBTAINED BY PARTIAL SYNTHESIS OF NATURAL
PRODUCTS
Preparation of Steroid hormones from diosgenin by acetolysis and
oxidation and further preparation of cortisone by microbial reactions.

12. 4. NATURAL PRODUCTS AS MODELS FOR SYNTHESIS OF NEW
DRUGS
Morphine is the model of a large group of potent drugs
Cocaine for local anaesthetics
Atropine for certain spasmolytics
5. DRUGS OF DIRECT THERAPEUTIC USES
antibiotics, steroids, ergot alkaloids, vincristine, etc
6. BIOSYNTHETIC PATHWAYS INVESTIGATION
Biosynthetic pathways of primary and secondary metabolites
7.CULTIVATION AND COLLECTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
clove, cinchona , cinnamon, senna, opium, etc
8. PREPARATION OF HERBAL FORMULATIONS
churnas, asvas, aristas, leha, etc

13. Importance of Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines
derived from natural sources, mainly from plants.
The pharmacological qualities of traditional
medicinal substances are effective.
The phytochemicals are derived from plants and
the identification of new drug candidates derived
from plant sources.
Easy availability of drugs and their low cost.
Drug synergism- additive effect of two or more
components of formulation.
Devoid of toxic effects or drug interactions in
herbal formulations.

14. Quinine
Cinchona bark, South American tree
Used by Incas; dried bark ground and mixed
with wine
First used in Rome in 1631
Extracted 1820
Large scale use 1850
Quinine Chemical synthesis 1944
Treatment: Malaria

15. Atropa Belladonna -> atropine
Anticholinergic
syndrome:
○Hot as hell
○Blind as a bat
○Red as a beet
○Dry as a bone
○Mad as a hatter
Treatment: Antimuscarinic (a type of anticholinergic) that works by
inhibiting the parasympathetic nervous system.

16. Physostigma
venosum
Calabar bean
Contains:Physostigmine
(reversible cholinesterase
inhibitor)

17. ‘Taxol’
Pacific Yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, bark
1964 activity discovered at NCI
1966 paclitaxel isolated
Mitotic inhibitor
interferes with normal microtubule growth during cell div
Used for cancer chemotherapy
lung, ovarian, breast, head & neck, Kaposi’s sarcoma

18. Digitalis Purpurae foxglove -> digoxin
(acts on cardiac muscle)

19. Classification of crude drugs
Alphabetical classification
Crude drugs are arranged according to
alphabetical order of their name.
British Pharmacopoeia (BP)
Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP)
European Pharmacopoeia (EP)
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP)
British Pharmaceutical Codex (BPC)
United States Pharmacopoeia (USP)

21. Morphological classification
The drugs are arranged according to the parts of
the plants used such as leaves, stems, roots,
barks, etc.
The drugs that represent cellular portion of plant
are organized drugs and the drug that represent
no cellular structure are unorganized drugs.
Organized drugs
Parts of plant drug
roots and rhizomes Male fern, rhubarb
barks Cinnamon, cinchona, cascara
leaves Adhatoda, eucalyptus
flowers Rose, saffron
fruits Cardamom, bael
seeds Castor, almond
entire plant Chirata, ergot

22. Unorganized drugs
category Drugs
Fixed oil Castor oil, lineseed oil
Volatile oil Turpentine oil, camphor
Dried latex Opium
Dried juice Aloe
Dried extracts Agar, gelatin
Resin Benzoin

23. Pharmacological classification
Drugs are classified according to the pharmacological action of
the drugs.
Pharmacological action Drugs
Cardiotonic Digitalis,Squil,Strophanthas
Carminative Coriander, clove
Anti-cancer Vinca, Taxus
Expectorant Vasaka, Benzoin
Tranquilizer Rauwolfia
Astringent Ashoka, Myrobalan
Purgative Senna, Aloe, Rhubarb
Analgesic Opium, Cannabis
Antiasthmatic Ephedra, Lobelia
Antiinflammatory Colchicum seed, turmeric

24. Taxonomical classification
The crude drugs are classified according to the botanical
classification.
Drugs Division Class family Species
Senna Angiosperm DicotyledonsLeguminasae angustifolia
Fennel Angiosperm DicotyledonsUmbeliferae vulgare
Nuxvomica Angiosperm DicotyledonsLoganiaceae nuxvomica
Coriander Angiosperm DicotyledonsUmbeliferae sativum

25. Classification according to Chemical
constituent
The drugs are classified on the basis of chemical
constituent present.
1. Glycosides - Digitalis, senna, cascara, liqourice
2. Alkaloids - Nuxvomica, ergot, cinchona, datura
3. Tannins - Myrobalan, pale catechu, ashoka
4. Volatile oils - Peppermint, clove, eucalyptus, garlic
5. Lipids - Castor oil, bees wax, lanolin, cod liver oil
6. Carbohydrates - Acacia, agar, guar gum, pectin,
honey
7. Resins & resin derivatives - Colophony, jalap,
Balsam of Tolu
8. Vitamins & Hormones - Oxytocin, insulin
9. Proteins & Enzymes - casein, gelatin, papain

26. Complementary and alternative System of
medicine
Complementary and alternative system of medicine
are a broad set of health care practices that are not
part of tradition and not integrated with modern health
care system.
Ayurveda: Indian Subcontinent
Chinese Traditional Medicine
Kampo: Japan
Tibetan
Homeopathy
Unani
Siddha

27. Ayurveda
Ayu means life and veda means knowledge. Thus Ayurveda
means knowledge or science of life.
It is a holistic science of health which covers physical,
psychological and spiritual well being.
It evolved from 4 Vedas namely:
Rigveda
Samaveda
Yajurveda and
Atharvaveda ( Primarily Ayurveda developed from this veda)
History of Ayurveda
Charaka Samhita
Sushruta Samhita

28. Charaka (1st century A.D.) wrote Charaka Samhita
(samhita- meaning collection of verses written in Sanskrit).
Sushruta (4th century A.D.) wrote Sushruta Samhita. 2000
plants that were used in healing diseases and abating
symptoms were identified in these books.
Ayurveda is based on the philosophy that body and
universe is composed of panchamahabhutas; space, air,
fire, water and earth. They exist inhuman body as
tridoshas; Vata, Pitta and kapha. Tridoshas exist in human
body in seven forms called saptadhatu; rasa, rakta, mamsa,
meda, asthi, majja & shukra.
When tridosha, saptadhatu and mala are in balance with
each other, it is called healthy while imbalance causes a
disease.

29. Vata
Sanskrit word vah means to excite or move
It originates movements in body and governs nervous
functions.
Most important because it controls other two doshas.
Pitta
Sanskrit word tapa means heat and energy
It is responsible for digestion, regulation of body
temperature and other transformation in body
Kapha
Sanskrit word slish means to embrace
It is responsible for formation and preservation of the body
It provides immunity and stregth to the body

30. Bhaijasya kalpana in ayurveda deals with
the knowledge of ayurvedic drugs.
Ayurvedic dosage forms according to the
physical status:
1. Solid dosage form: Vati, Churna, bhasma,
Kshara
2. Semisolid dosage form: Avleha, ghirta
3. Liquid dosage form: Taila, Asava-arista,
Arka

31. Homeopathy
Founded by German Doctor Sameul Hahnemann (1790)
Homeopathy is derived from greek word Homoeo (similar) &
pathos (suffering).
Based on law of Simular's, “Similia Similibus Curantur” (Like
cures Like)
Theory and Basic Concept
The doctrine of Similia Similibus Curantur (Let like be treated
by like) is the basic foundation of it. A tree cannot be
destroyed by just cutting it’s branches or roots because the
branches may sprout again. Uprooting is necessary if the
tree is to be destroyed permanently.
A disease will not recur if the root cause of the disease is
removed completely from the patient.

32. Potencies and Dilution
Potency means inner or physical strength. It is
the dynamic property of the drug which is
released, enhanced and maintained.
Dilutions are based on 1:10 ratio represented
by a roman number X or D.
Sources of Homeopathic medicines
Plant kingdom: Allium sativum, Aegle
marmelos, etc
Animal kingdom: cod liver oil, saliva, poisons,
etc
Minerals and chemicals: Silica, gold, silver, etc

33. Important Homeopathic drugs and their uses
Allium cepa: Allergies and hay fever
Arnica spp:. Aches, pain
Atropa belladonna: Headache, fever
Borax: Ulcers
Calendula: Antiseptic
Rauwolfia: Hypertension
Urtica urens: Burn treatment

34. Siddha
Siddha is one of the most ancient recorded
herbal systems of medicine, dating back to
pre-Ayurvedic period.
It is believed to be developed with the ancient
civilization of Mohenjodaro hadappa in the
Indus valley.
Siddha Vaidyas uses same formulation for the
different ailments but varies its adjuvants
called anupanam such as milk, ghee,
honey,etc

35. Theory and Basic Principles
3 principles vata, pitta, kapha (Triguna).

Treatment
Siddha Vaidya keeps the knowledge of
thousands of herbs and their effectiveness in
specific composition and formulation.
Formulations
Kashayam (extracts)
churnam (powders)
tailams (medicated oils)
bhasmam (calx prepared by calcination)
ghritam (medicated ghee)

36. Unani
System of medicine which was developed during
Arabian civilization based on theory of four humors.
Based on two theories; Hippocratic theory of four
humours and Pythagorian theory of four proximate
qualities. The four humours are blood, phelgm, yellow
bile and black bile while four proximate qualities are
states of human body like hot, cold, moist and dry.
The balance of four humours and qualities is healthy
state whereas imbalance is disease state. The quality
of the uniform body is called "mizaj". The substance
may be a "mizaj-e-mutadil" (balanced one) or a
"mizaj-e-ghair-mutadil" (imbalanced one).

38. The system of medicine was documented in Al-
Qanoon, a medical Bible, by Sheikh Ali Sina and
Razi.
Treatment : Done by Hakim (Physicians)
Ilaj-bit-tadbeer : Use of exercise, massage, etc.
Ilaj-bil-dawa: Use of extracts of plants or animals.
Ilaj-bil-Yad: Surgery
Important herbs are Adhatoda vasaka,
Rawolfia serpentina, swertia chirata, etc

40. Naturopathy
Naturopathy or nature care is the practice
using simple methods of treatment like water
treatment, dietics, fasting, etc.
Aromatherapy
 Aromatherapy is the use of volatile oils and
chemicals to alleviate disease or symptoms.
Volatile oils: Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood, etc

41. THANK YOU