Introduction
to pharmacognosy, methods of
classification of crude drugs. Systematic description and storage of crude
drugs. Plant hormones and their applications
Cultivation - Advantages and disadvantages of obtaining drugs
from cultivated and wild Plants. Variability of drug constituents due to
exogenous and endogenous factors like altitude, light, temperature, rainfall,
propagation by seeds, vegetative means, selection, mutation, hybridization and
polyploidy.
Collection
of Medicinal Plants - effect of
season, time of collection and age of the plant on the quality of active
principles. Treatment subsequent to collection - desirable and undesirable
changes after collection / drying.
Plant
Biosynthesis - Techniques employed in
Biosynthetic pathways, precursor - product sequence, competitive feeding,
sequential analysis. Study of basic metabolic pathways, Carbohydrate synthesis,
Shikimic acid pathway, Isoprenoid biosynthesis.
Hazards
- like infestation with spores of
micro organisms eggs and steps to prevent the same. Drugs deterioration
by non living factors like moisture etc., and steps to prevent deterioration.
Adulterations of crude drugs and their detection. Quality control of crude
drugs and Phytochemicals. Study of the following methods for evaluation,
identity, purity, quality by organoleptic, microscopic, physical, chemical and
biological characters; Moisture content determination, determination of foreign
organic matters and analysis of volatile oils, quantitative microscopic
exercises including lycopodium spore method, leaf constant, crude fibre
content.
Systematic
Phamacognostic study of following drugs
Carbohydrates
- Agar, Tragacanth, acacia, starch, isabgol linseed, regenerated carbohydrate
fibres, cellulose, alginates and tamarind; Fixed Oils, Fats and Waxes -
Chaulmoogroil, neem oil, castor oil, olive oil, bees wax, spermaceti,
carnaubawa, theorbroma oil, and lard.
Tannins
- Myrobalan, Black catechu, Pale catechu, gal amla and arjuna.
Systemic
Pharmacognostic study of the following Fibers: Cotton, Jute, Hemp, Rayon, Wool, silk and Nylon.
Drugs
from mineral and animal origin -
Kaolin, talc Bentonite, Cod liver oil, Shark liver oil, cantherides, Musk,
Honey, and cochineal.
Proteins
& Enzvme - Papain, Pepsi Gelatin,
Pancreatin