← B.Pharm Semester 1

BP105T — Introduction to Pharmacognosy

3 hrs/week · 3 credits · 45 hours · 75 marks (30 internal + 45 end-semester). Notes follow the PCI B.Pharm (NEP 2020) Semester 1 syllabus, unit by unit.

Units in this subject

1. Unit 1 — Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy
2. Unit 2 — Cultivation, Collection, Processing and Storage of Drugs of Natural Origin
3. Unit 3 — Quality Control of Drugs of Natural Origin (WHO Guidelines)
4. Unit 4 — Metabolites of Plant Origin; Traditional Systems of Medicine
5. Unit 5 — Phyto-therapeutic Agents

B.Pharm · Semester I · NEP 2020 (Pharmacy Council of India) · 3 hrs/week · 45 hours · 75 marks (30 internal + 45 end-semester, 2 hr paper)

These notes follow the official Semester I syllabus, Unit I to Unit V, topic by topic. Written for first-year B.Pharm students in India — definitions first, then the exam pattern that matters most in pharmacognosy: biological source → chemical constituents → uses, with chemical tests and adulteration points where examiners love to ask.

Unit I — Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy (10 hours)

1.1 Definition, history, present status, scope and development

Definition (exam-ready): Pharmacognosy is the scientific study of crude drugs obtained from natural sources — plants, animals, minerals, microbes and marine organisms — covering their history, cultivation, collection, processing, storage, identification, evaluation, and therapeutic use.

• The word comes from Greek: pharmakon (drug) + gnosis (knowledge). The term was first used by C. A. Seydler in 1815 in his work Analecta Pharmacognostica.
• In earlier days pharmacognosy was mostly about identifying and describing crude drugs. Today it has grown into the study of active constituents, their chemistry, and how plant-based products become modern medicines.

Scope — where a pharmacognosist works: - Industry: herbal drug formulation, quality control of raw materials, standardization of extracts. - Research: drug discovery from natural sources (new leads for cancer, malaria, antibiotics). - Regulation: pharmacopoeial standards, testing for adulteration, GMP for herbal products. - Traditional medicine: scientific validation of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy formulations.

Present status: After a mid-20th-century dip (when synthetic drugs dominated), pharmacognosy revived strongly. Reasons: resistance to synthetic drugs, side-effect concerns, WHO support for traditional medicine, and blockbuster plant-derived drugs (taxol, artemisinin) proving that nature still beats the lab at molecular invention.

Exam angle: 2-mark questions on the definition and who coined the term; short notes on "scope of pharmacognosy."

1.2 Sources of drugs

Natural drugs come from six broad sources. Learn one example of each — examiners ask "give one example of a drug from each source."

Plant tissue culture — why it matters: it gives a uniform, contamination-free supply of medicinal compounds, works for plants that are slow-growing or endangered, and does not depend on season or climate. Limitation: expensive, and scaling up from flask to factory is difficult.

1.3 Historical milestones in drug discovery

This list is straight from the syllabus. Learn drug → source → discoverer/year → use. This is a favourite 5-mark question.

1.4 Herbal / traditional pharmacopoeias

A pharmacopoeia is an official book of drug standards — it tells you how to identify a drug, what tests it must pass, and how pure it must be. The syllabus names six:

1. Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP): published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad. Includes monographs on herbal drugs along with synthetic drugs.
2. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP): standards specifically for herbal medicines used in the UK.
3. United States Pharmacopeia – Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements (USP): quality standards for botanicals and dietary supplements sold in the US.
4. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API): published by the Government of India (Ministry of AYUSH); monographs on Ayurvedic raw drugs and formulations.
5. Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI): standards for Unani (Greco-Arab) medicines.
6. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP): non-profit, detailed monographs on botanicals sold in North America.

Exam angle: "Name the pharmacopoeias that include herbal drug monographs" — list all six with one line each.

1.5 Official and non-official; codified and non-codified drugs

• Official drugs: drugs listed in an official pharmacopoeia (IP, BP, USP). Example: Senna (in IP).
• Non-official drugs: drugs not listed in any pharmacopoeia but still used. Example: many folk remedies.
• Codified drugs: drugs described in classical, codified traditional texts — Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita (Ayurveda), or official pharmacopoeias. Their identity and use are documented in an authoritative book.
• Non-codified drugs: drugs used in folk/tribal medicine, known through oral tradition, not written in any classical text. Example: many tribal plant remedies.

Memory hook: official = in the pharmacopoeia; codified = written in a classical book. A drug can be codified but non-official (in Charaka Samhita but not in IP).

1.6 Classification of crude drugs

Classification = arranging crude drugs into groups so they are easy to study. The syllabus names six systems. Learn the basis + one example + one merit + one limitation of each. This is almost guaranteed as a 5–10 mark question.

Which system is most used in practice? Chemical and pharmacological classifications are the most useful for pharmacy students because they connect the constituent to the action — exactly the source → constituent → use pattern of exams.

FAQs — Unit I

Q. What is pharmacognosy in simple words? A. It is the branch of pharmacy that studies medicines obtained from nature — how to find them, grow them, identify them, test their quality, and use them safely.

Q. Who coined the term pharmacognosy? A. C. A. Seydler, in 1815.

Q. Which classification of crude drugs is best for pharmacy students? A. The chemical classification, because it groups drugs by their active constituents (alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils), which directly explains their therapeutic uses.

Q. Give one example each of plant, animal, mineral and marine drugs. A. Plant: Senna; Animal: Honey; Mineral: Kaolin; Marine: Agar.

Q. Why is artemisinin important in drug discovery history? A. It was developed from a traditional Chinese herbal text, won the 2015 Nobel Prize, and became the backbone of modern malaria treatment (ACT) — proof that traditional knowledge can yield first-line modern drugs.

Key takeaways — Unit I

• Pharmacognosy = study of natural crude drugs; term coined by Seydler (1815).
• Six drug sources: plants, animals, microbes, marine, minerals, plant tissue culture.
• Eight syllabus milestones: morphine → quinine → aspirin → warfarin → penicillin → cephalosporin → taxol → artemisinin. Learn discoverer + source for each.
• Six pharmacopoeias: IP, BHP, USP (herbal), Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Unani Pharmacopoeia of India, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
• Official vs codified: official = in a pharmacopoeia; codified = in a classical text.
• Six classification systems with merits and limitations — chemical and pharmacological are the most exam- and practice-relevant.

Unit II — Cultivation, Collection, Processing and Storage of Drugs of Natural Origin (8 hours)

2.1 Methods of plant cultivation

Medicinal plants are cultivated (not just wild-collected) so that supply is steady and quality is uniform. Common methods:

• Sexual propagation (seeds): cheap, easy for large areas. Limitation: genetic variation — every seedling is slightly different, so active constituent content varies. Example: Senna, Isabgol.
• Asexual / vegetative propagation: cuttings, grafting, layering, suckers. Gives genetically identical plants, so constituent content is uniform. Example: sugarcane setts, mint stolons.
• Micropropagation (tissue culture): growing plantlets from small tissue pieces in sterile lab conditions. Used for rare or disease-free planting material.

Wild vs cultivated: wild plants often have higher constituent content (stress increases secondary metabolites), but cultivated plants give reliable quantity and quality. For industry, cultivation wins.

2.2 Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (WHO / GAP / GCP guidelines)

Note on terminology: the syllabus writes "WHO / GAP / GCP guidelines." In practice the WHO document is titled "Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants." GACP covers how to grow and collect; GCP (Good Clinical Practice) belongs to clinical trials, not plant cultivation — if the examiner asks, quote the syllabus phrase but know that GACP is the correct standard for medicinal plants.

Key points of WHO GACP: - Site selection: soil free of heavy metals, pesticides and industrial pollutants; clean irrigation water. - Seeds and propagation material: identified botanically, free of disease, preferably from authenticated sources. - Cultivation: no banned pesticides; fertilizer use recorded; crop rotation to protect soil. - Collection: correct plant species, correct part, correct season/time of day; collectors trained to avoid mixing with similar-looking species. - Post-harvest: proper drying, cleaning, grading; storage protected from moisture, pests and light. - Documentation: every batch traceable — where grown, when harvested, how processed. This is what "quality starts in the field" means.

2.3 Factors influencing cultivation, collection and storage

Examiners ask this as "factors affecting quality of crude drugs." Group them:

Environmental (before harvest): - Altitude and climate: temperature, rainfall, humidity decide where a plant thrives. Example: Cinchona needs tropical highlands. - Soil: pH, minerals, drainage. Liquorice grown in different soils varies in glycyrrhizin content. - Light and photoperiod: affects flowering and constituent formation.

Biological: - Plant age and growth stage: constituents peak at a particular stage — e.g., alkaloids in Belladonna leaves are highest at flowering. - Pests and diseases: reduce yield and can introduce toxins.

Collection-stage: - Time of collection: season, time of day. Volatile oil plants are collected in the morning when oil content is highest; barks in spring. - Method of collection: correct part only, no adulterant species mixed in.

Post-harvest: - Drying: too slow → fungal growth; too fast/hot → loss of volatile oils and decomposition of glycosides. Shade drying for leaves and flowers; sun drying for barks and roots. - Storage: moisture causes mould; light degrades constituents; insects eat stored drugs. Store in cool, dry, airtight, dark conditions.

2.4 Plant hormones and their applications in cultivation

Plant hormones (phytohormones) used to improve medicinal plant cultivation:

Practical angle: hormones let growers multiply elite, high-yielding plants quickly and uniformly — directly raising the active constituent yield per hectare.

2.5 Polyploidy, mutation and hybridization (with reference to secondary metabolites)

These are plant-breeding tools to increase the quantity of active constituents:

• Polyploidy: doubling chromosome sets (using colchicine). Polyploid plants are often bigger and richer in secondary metabolites. Classic example: tetraploid Datura and Artemisia strains with higher alkaloid/artemisinin content.
• Mutation: inducing changes with radiation or chemicals (e.g., EMS), then selecting mutants with higher constituent yield. Example: high-morphine mutants of opium poppy.
• Hybridization: crossing two varieties/species to combine good traits — e.g., high yield of one parent with high constituent content of the other. Example: Cinchona hybrids with higher quinine.

Simple logic to remember: secondary metabolites are the drug; breeding aims to make the plant produce more of them.

2.6 Conservation: ex-situ, in-situ, value addition, eco-pharmacognosy

• In-situ conservation: protecting plants in their natural habitat — national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, sacred groves.
• Ex-situ conservation: protecting plants outside their habitat — botanical gardens, seed banks, gene banks, cryopreservation, tissue culture repositories.
• Strategies for value addition: instead of selling raw dried herbs cheaply, process them into standardized extracts, powders, capsules or essential oils — more income for growers, better quality for buyers.
• Eco-pharmacognosy: using ecological knowledge to conserve medicinal plants sustainably — harvesting without destroying the population, so the resource survives for future use.

Endangered examples from the syllabus — Kutki and Chirata: - Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa): Himalayan herb, hepatoprotective; over-collected from the wild for the herbal industry, now threatened. Needs cultivation and regulated collection. - Chirata (Swertia chirata): Himalayan bitter tonic; wild populations declining due to heavy demand.

Exam angle: short notes on in-situ vs ex-situ conservation, or "write a note on eco-pharmacognosy with examples of endangered medicinal plants."

FAQs — Unit II

Q. What is GACP? A. WHO's Good Agricultural and Collection Practices for medicinal plants — guidelines covering site selection, cultivation, collection, drying, storage and documentation so that crude drugs are safe and consistent in quality.

Q. Why is the time of collection important for crude drugs? A. Active constituent content changes with season, growth stage and even time of day. Collecting at the wrong time gives a weak drug — e.g., volatile-oil plants are best collected in the morning.

Q. What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation? A. In-situ protects plants in their natural habitat (sanctuaries, national parks); ex-situ protects them outside it (botanical gardens, seed banks, tissue culture).

Q. How does polyploidy help medicinal plants? A. Doubling chromosomes often produces larger plants with higher secondary metabolite content — e.g., tetraploid strains richer in alkaloids.

Key takeaways — Unit II

• Cultivate medicinal plants for uniform quality; propagate vegetatively or by tissue culture when uniformity matters.
• WHO GACP (syllabus writes GAP/GCP) governs growing, collecting, drying, storing and documenting medicinal plants.
• Quality is decided by environment, plant age, collection time and post-harvest handling — drying and storage mistakes ruin good material.
• Auxins root cuttings; gibberellins break dormancy; cytokinins multiply shoots in tissue culture.
• Polyploidy, mutation and hybridization are breeding tools to raise secondary metabolite yield.
• In-situ = in nature; ex-situ = in gardens/banks; eco-pharmacognosy = sustainable use; Kutki and Chirata are the syllabus's endangered examples.

Unit III — Quality Control of Drugs of Natural Origin: WHO Guidelines (8 hours)

3.1 Adulteration of drugs of natural origin

Definition: Adulteration is the partial or complete substitution of a genuine drug with a spurious, inferior, or otherwise foreign material — or mixing such material into the genuine drug.

Types of adulterants (learn with one example each):

Why it matters: adulteration reduces therapeutic effect and can cause poisoning. Quality control exists to catch it.

3.2 Evaluation of drugs — the five methods

Evaluation = testing a crude drug to confirm its identity, purity and quality. The syllabus lists five approaches:

1. Organoleptic evaluation: using sense organs — colour, odour, taste, size, shape, texture, fracture. Example: liquorice has a sweet taste; clove has a strong aromatic odour. Quick and cheap, but subjective.
2. Microscopic evaluation: - Qualitative: studying tissue structure — stomata type, trichomes, calcium oxalate crystals, fibres. Confirms identity (e.g., Senna leaf shows paracytic stomata and unicellular trichomes). - Quantitative (leaf constants): numbers that don't change with environment — stomatal number, stomatal index, vein-islet number, veinlet termination number, palisade ratio. Used to detect adulteration in powdered leaf drugs.
3. Physical evaluation: moisture content, melting point, viscosity, optical rotation, refractive index, ash values — constants that reveal impurity.
4. Chemical evaluation: chemical tests and assays for active constituents — e.g., acid value and saponification value for fixed oils, alkaloid assays, TLC/HPLC fingerprinting.
5. Biological evaluation: testing the drug's effect on living organisms or tissues when chemical tests are not enough — e.g., testing digitalis on cardiac muscle, or microbiological assay of antibiotics.

3.3 Physicochemical parameters (learn what each one detects)

This list is frequently asked as "define and give significance of…". Pick any four for a short-note question.

3.4 DNA barcoding

Definition: DNA barcoding identifies a plant species from a short, standard DNA sequence (like a supermarket barcode identifies a product) — commonly regions such as rbcL, matK or ITS.

Why it matters in pharmacognosy: - Identifies powdered or processed drugs where microscopy fails. - Catches substitution with closely related species that look identical. - Works even on tiny or degraded samples.

Limitation: needs a lab, reference database and trained staff — not a field test.

FAQs — Unit III

Q. What is adulteration in pharmacognosy? A. Replacing or mixing a genuine crude drug with inferior, spurious or foreign material — e.g., exhausted clove (oil already removed) sold as genuine clove.

Q. What are leaf constants? A. Fixed microscopic numbers used to identify powdered leaf drugs: stomatal number, stomatal index, vein-islet number, veinlet termination number and palisade ratio.

Q. Why is ash value determined? A. To detect inorganic impurities — a high acid-insoluble ash value means the drug is contaminated with sand or silica.

Q. What is DNA barcoding used for in herbal drugs? A. Identifying the exact plant species from its DNA, especially useful for powders and extracts where the plant's structure is destroyed.

Key takeaways — Unit III

• Adulteration = substitution or admixture with inferior/foreign material; five types with examples.
• Five evaluation methods: organoleptic, microscopic (qualitative + quantitative leaf constants), physical, chemical, biological.
• Physicochemical parameters each detect a specific fault — moisture (spoilage), ash (sand), acid value (rancidity), swelling index (mucilage).
• DNA barcoding = species identification from a standard DNA sequence; the modern answer to powdered-drug adulteration.

Unit IV — Introduction to Metabolites of Plant Origin; Traditional Systems of Medicine (12 hours)

4.1 Definition and general properties of plant metabolites

Definition: Plant metabolites are chemical compounds produced by plant metabolism. They fall into two groups:

• Primary metabolites: compounds directly involved in growth, development and reproduction — needed for the plant to live. Found in all plants, in large amounts.
• Secondary metabolites: compounds not directly needed for basic life processes, but help the plant survive — defence against pests, attraction of pollinators, protection from UV. These are the source of most plant drugs. Produced in smaller amounts, and their quantity varies with environment.

4.2 The metabolite classes (syllabus list)

Learn definition + one test or property + one drug example for each. Chemical tests are classic 2-mark questions.

• Carbohydrates: polyhydroxy aldehydes/ketones; primary metabolites; energy source. Drugs: starch (diluent), acacia and tragacanth (suspending agents), agar (laxative, culture media). Test: Molisch's test.
• Proteins: polymers of amino acids; enzymes are proteins. Drug examples: gelatin (capsule shells), papain (protein-digesting enzyme from papaya, used as anthelmintic/digestant). Test: Biuret test.
• Lipids (fixed oils, fats, waxes): esters of fatty acids with glycerol. Drugs: castor oil (laxative), cod-liver oil (vitamins A & D), beeswax (ointment base). Tests: saponification value, acid value; spot test (translucent stain on paper).
• Alkaloids: nitrogen-containing basic compounds of plant origin, usually with strong physiological action. Drugs: morphine (analgesic), quinine (antimalarial), reserpine (antihypertensive), vincristine (anticancer). Tests: Mayer's, Dragendorff's, Wagner's, Hager's reagents give precipitates.
• Glycosides: compounds that yield a sugar (glycone) and a non-sugar part (aglycone/genin) on hydrolysis. Drugs: senna — sennosides (laxative); digitalis — digoxin (cardiotonic). Tests: Bornträger's test for anthraquinone glycosides; Keller-Kiliani for cardiac glycosides.
• Flavonoids: polyphenolic compounds, often yellow pigments; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory. Drugs: rutin (capillary protectant), quercetin. Test: Shinoda test (magnesium + HCl gives pink/red colour).
• Tannins: polyphenolic compounds that precipitate proteins — astringent action. Drugs: catechu, myrobalan (triphala ingredient). Tests: ferric chloride (blue-black colour), gelatin test (white precipitate).
• Terpenoids: built from isoprene units; huge class including many essential-oil components. Drugs: menthol (carminative, cooling), camphor.
• Volatile oils: aromatic, steam-distillable oils; mostly terpenoids. Drugs: clove oil (dental analgesic), eucalyptus oil (expectorant), peppermint oil (carminative). Properties: evaporate at room temperature, characteristic odour.
• Resins: solid or semi-solid plant exudates, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol. Drugs: benzoin (expectorant, antiseptic inhalation), asafoetida (carminative).

Exam angle: "Classify secondary metabolites with examples" and "give chemical tests for alkaloids/glycosides/tannins" are repeat questions.

4.3 Traditional systems of medicine — AYUSH and TCM

AYUSH = the six recognized traditional systems of India: Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy. (Sowa-Rigpa is also officially recognized.)

Basic principles of treatment (one line each — enough for a short note): - Ayurveda: balances the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha); treatment by herbs, diet, Panchakarma detoxification and lifestyle. - Unani: based on the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile); treatment by regimental therapy, diet, and herbal drugs. - Siddha: South Indian system; balances three humours (Vata, Pitta, Kapha); uses herbs plus herbo-mineral preparations. - Homoeopathy: "like cures like" — highly diluted remedies chosen by symptom similarity (law of similars, single remedy, minimum dose). - TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine): balances Yin-Yang and Qi flowing through meridians; treatment by herbal formulas, acupuncture, cupping and diet.

Types of dosage forms in AYUSH medicines: Kwatha (decoction), Churna (powder), Vati/Gutika (tablets/pills), Asava and Arishta (fermented liquids), Taila (medicated oils), Ghrita (medicated ghee), Bhasma (calcined herbo-mineral preparations), Lehya/Avaleha (confections/linctus-like preparations), Arka (distillates).

Role of pharmacognosy in allopathy and traditional systems: - In allopathy: pharmacognosy supplies lead compounds (morphine, taxol, artemisinin), standardizes herbal raw materials, and detects adulteration. - In traditional systems (AYUSH/TCM): it gives scientific backing — correct botanical identification of classical drugs, quality standards for pharmacopoeial monographs, and safety testing of formulations.

FAQs — Unit IV

Q. What is the difference between primary and secondary metabolites? A. Primary metabolites (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids) keep the plant alive and are found in all plants; secondary metabolites (alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils) help the plant defend itself and are the source of most plant drugs.

Q. Which chemical tests identify alkaloids? A. Mayer's, Dragendorff's, Wagner's and Hager's reagents — all give characteristic precipitates with alkaloids.

Q. What does AYUSH stand for? A. Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy — India's officially recognized traditional systems of medicine.

Q. Name two AYUSH dosage forms. A. Churna (powder) and Kwatha (decoction); others include Vati (tablets), Asava/Arishta (fermented liquids) and Taila (medicated oils).

Key takeaways — Unit IV

• Primary metabolites = life processes (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids); secondary metabolites = defence compounds and the main drug source.
• Ten syllabus classes to know with one example and one test each: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, volatile oils, resins.
• Chemical tests: alkaloids (Mayer's/Dragendorff's), anthraquinone glycosides (Bornträger's), tannins (ferric chloride), flavonoids (Shinoda).
• AYUSH = Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy; TCM balances Yin-Yang and Qi.
• AYUSH dosage forms: Kwatha, Churna, Vati, Asava/Arishta, Taila, Ghrita, Bhasma.
• Pharmacognosy's role: drug leads and quality control for allopathy; scientific validation and standardization for traditional systems.

Unit V — Phyto-therapeutic Agents (7 hours)

This unit is the highest-yield section for exams: for each drug, learn biological source (botanical name, family, part used) → major chemical constituents → uses. That three-step pattern answers nearly every question here.

5.1 Adaptogens and immunomodulators

Adaptogens help the body resist stress; immunomodulators strengthen immune response.

5.2 Hepatoprotectives

5.3 Cardiovascular drugs

5.4 Antidiabetics

5.5 Anti-inflammatory and analgesics

5.6 CNS drugs

Exam caution: in some regional traditions "Brahmi" also means Gotu kola (Centella asiatica). In pharmacognosy textbooks and the IP, Brahmi = Bacopa monnieri. If asked, mention both names to be safe.

5.7 Antimicrobial and antivirals

5.8 Gastrointestinal drugs

5.9 Dermatological agents

5.10 Drugs used in women's health

5.11 Respiratory drugs

How to revise Unit V fast: cover the table, say the common name aloud, and recite source → family → part → constituents → uses. The family names repeat (Acanthaceae appears three times: Vasaka, Andrographis, Brahmi is Scrophulariaceae) — grouping by family is a good memory trick.

FAQs — Unit V

Q. What are the active constituents of Ashwagandha? A. Withanolides (especially withaferin A) from the dried roots of Withania somnifera (Solanaceae); used as an adaptogen and immunomodulator.

Q. Which plant drugs are used as hepatoprotectives? A. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum, silymarin) and Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa, picrosides).

Q. What is the source and use of Gymnema? A. Leaves of Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae), containing gymnemic acids; used as an antidiabetic — it is called Gurmar, the "sugar destroyer."

Q. Name the CNS drug in the syllabus and its constituents. A. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), containing bacosides A and B; used as a memory enhancer (nootropic).

Q. What are the constituents of Vasaka and its use? A. Vasicine and vasicinone (quinazoline alkaloids) from Adhatoda vasica leaves; used as an expectorant and bronchodilator in cough and asthma.

Key takeaways — Unit V

• 21 drugs across 11 therapeutic classes — revise each as source → family → part used → constituents → uses.
• Adaptogens: Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Amla. Hepatoprotectives: Milk thistle, Kutki.
• Cardio: Garlic (allicin), Arjuna (arjunolic acid). Antidiabetics: Gymnema (gymmemic acids), Fenugreek (trigonelline).
• Anti-inflammatory: Turmeric (curcumin), Boswellia (boswellic acids). CNS: Brahmi (bacosides).
• Antimicrobial: Giloy, Neem, Andrographis (andrographolide). GI: Psyllium. Skin: Aloe. Women's health: Chasteberry, Shatavari. Respiratory: Vasaka (vasicine).
• Family repetitions (Acanthaceae, Solanaceae) make good memory hooks; watch the Brahmi naming ambiguity.

End of BP105T notes. Syllabus coverage: Unit I (10 hrs) · Unit II (8 hrs) · Unit III (8 hrs) · Unit IV (12 hrs) · Unit V (7 hrs) = 45 hours, as per the PCI B.Pharm (NEP 2020) Semester I syllabus.

Other Semester 1 subjects: BP101T · BP102T · BP103T · BP104T · BP105T · BP106T · Semester 1 Hub · MCQ Bank