Pharmacognosy o Reserpine from Rauwolfia which is an antihypertensive agent

- Derived from the Greek words “pharmakon” which means due to trimethoxybenzoic acid structure
drug, and “gnosis” which means knowledge o Tubocurarine from Curare which is a muscle relaxant due to
- It is an applied science that integrates the biological, presence of quaternary ammonium compounds
biochemical (active constituent), and economic features of 3. Natural Products as Prototypes for Synthetic drugs
drugs of biologic (natural) origin - Ex. Morphine extracted from Opium Poppy
o Diacetylmorphine/Diamorphine = Heroin
I. History of Pharmacognosy o Methyl morphine = Codeine (antitussive)
1. Babylonians- the yused clay models of human body - Cocaine from Erythroxylum coca is a model for local
- They have early knowledge (idea) on medicinal pants anesthetics (Lidocaine, Procaine, etc.)
2. Ayurveda – Science of Life 4. Biosynthetic Pathway Investigation
- Known as “Mother of all Healing Arts”
- Ancient traditional Indian Medicine 5. Cultivation & Collection of Herbal Medicinal Plants and
Preparation of Herbal Products
3. Egyptians – they are known for “embalming”
- They are thought to have knowledge on human body III. Crude drugs
- They also have knowledge on Medicinal Plants as - Vegetable/animal drugs obtained from natural sources which
discovered by George Ebers through Papyrus Ebers or have only undergone collection & drying
Ebers Papyrus which is a document on medicinal plants - Have not advance in value
4. Greeks o Natural Product – no modifications
a. Pedanius Dioscorides – considered as “Father of o Semisynthetic product – molecularly modified
Pharmacognosy” o Total synthetic product – no modification; used own supplies;
- known for his work “De Materia Medica” or “The Example: Spermaceti from Physeler macrocephalus
Medicinal Plants” containing information on 600 Total synthetic spermaceti: Cetyl alcohol + Stearic acid
medicinal plants Oil of Wintergreen from Gautheria procumbens
Total synthetic Oil of Wintergreen: Methanol + Acetic anhydride
b. Caludius Galen – introduced “Galenicals” which is about
compounding (mixing of ingredients to form a drug product)
- considered as “Father of Pharmaceutical Compounding” Preparation of Crude Drugs
5. Germans 1. Collection and Harvesting – ensure the true source of drug
a. C.A. Seydler – coined the term “Pharmacognosy” through his - Considerations:
dissertation “Analecta Pharmacognostica” a. Effect of Time of Year – active constituents vary in
b. Schmidt – used the term “Pharmacognosy” in his writing amounts depending on time of year
Lehrbuch der Materia Medica - Ex. Rhubarb (Rheum officinale) contains anthraquinones,
which are laxative in nature, are best collected during
6. Fluckiger – defined Pharmacognosy as the “simultaneous summer because in winter, there are no anthraquinones
application of various scientific disciplines with the object of but anthranols instead which will be oxidized to
acquiring drugs from every point of view” anthraquinones during the summer
7. Pelletier & Caventou – they were able to discover Quinine - Ex. Colchicum corm (Colchicum autumnale) gives off
which is an antimalarial agent isolated from Cinchona succirubra Colchicine which is an antigout to be collected during
(also has Quinidine which is an anti-arrhythmic drug) early spring to summer; during autumn, they are free from
bitterness and devoid of Colchicine
8. Friedrich Serturner – discovered Morphine from Opium Poppy
b. Effect of the time of day
(Papaver somniferum) used as an opioid analgesic
- Solanaceous leaves are best collected in the morning
- Digitalis are best collected in the afternoon
II. Scope of Pharmacognosy
- Salix (salicylic acid) are best collected in the evening
1. Isolation and Analysis of Phytochemicals
c. General factors such as plant part
- Separation of Phytochemicals from source
- Flowers: during dry weather
 Morphine from Opium Poppy  Reserpine from Rauwolfia
- Leaves: when the plant is flowering
 Atropine from Belladonna  Hyoscyamine from Hyoscyamus
- Fruits & Seeds: when they are mature but not yet ripe
2. Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) - Underground organs: when the aerial parts are drying
o Anthraquinone glycosides – senosides from Senna which has or is already dried; during autumn
laxative property due to Anthracene ring

KASO
2. Drying – to remove excessive moisture to prolong the quality
 Tubocurarine (muscle relaxant) and Insulin can be tested on rabbits
through preventing fungal/bacterial growth and enzymatic
 Oxytocin can be tested on chickens  Heparin can be tested on sheeps
degradation  Digitalis can be tested on pigeons
- To decrease its particle size and increase its surface area
for more efficiency in drug extraction 3. Chemical evaluation – assay: determine percent concentration
- To decrease its weight for easier shipping of active constituent; Best method to evaluate crude drugs
- Methods: 4. Physical evaluation – considers physical parameters like
a. Natural drying – expose crude drug under the sun or air water/moisture content
under cover sheds
b. Artificial oven drying – more rapid drying process Classification of Crude drugs
compared to natural process; temperature is well controlled 1. Chemical/Biogenetic classification – based on active
c. Lyophilization (Freeze drying) – exposing plant materials constituent; Preferred method of classification
below freezing point; For heat-labile/sensitive crude drugs 2. Morphological classification – based on plant part/s used
3. Curing – special drying process to enhance the active ingredient 3. Taxonomical classification – according to biologic classification
of the crude drug or Phylogeny (evolutionary history of a kind of organism)
- Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) has 4. Pharmacologic classification – based on pharmacologic activity
anthraquinone with an irritating principle therefore it
needs to be cured through soaking it in Magnesium IV. Nomenclature – by Carolous Linnaeus
oxide (MgO) for a year to convert its reduced
glycosides to the oxidized form Basis on Naming of Specific Name is based on:
1. Striking characteristic of plant – markings on leaves
4. Garbling – final step in the preparation of crude drug - Cassia acutifolia: has sharp-pointed leaves
- For marketability and protection from insect attacks through - Cassia angustifolia: has narrow leaflets
exposing it to 65˚C, or through fumigation with methyl - Glycyrrhiza glabra: glabrous/smooth texture
bromide, or addition of few drops of chloroform - Hyoscyamus muticus: short
- Conium maculatum: with spots
Evaluation of Crude drugs
 Quality  Quantity 2. Characteristic color
- Digitalis purpurea: purple - Digitalis lutea: yellow
 Purity: adulteration – article debasement - Brassica nigra: black - Brassica alba: white
a. Sophistication – the addition of inferior material to any - Piper nigrum: black
substance to defraud; intentionally done to cheat. 3. Geographical source
b. Inferiority – any substandard drug or substance - Tamarindus indicus: India - Urginea maritime: coast
regardless of cause - Cinnamomum zeylanicum: Ceylon
- Example: The dried ripe seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica
contain 1.15% of strychnine. Seeds containing less than 1.15% of 4. Pharmacologic activity
strychnine, considered as inferior substandard drug. - Lytta vesicatoria: causes blistering
c. Deterioration – any impairment of the quality of any - Strychmos nux-vomica: induces vomiting (emetic)
product by destruction of any valuable constituent by - Ipomoea purga: Laxative/Purgative
distillation, extraction, moisture, heat, fungi, and insects or
by various means. V. References
d. Spoilage – a form of substandard drug in which the quality 1. Monographs – descriptive materials pertaining to any drug/plant
of the drug has been destroyed by the action of fungi or found in pharmacopeias
bacteria, as to render the product unfit for human
consumption. 2. Pharmacopeias – recognized books by the government as legal
authority in the standardization of drugs
e. Admixture – the addition of one product to another
through accident, ignorance or carelessness.  Official drug – has therapeutic use and is recognized by
pharmacopeias
f. Substitution – occurs when an entirely different material is
used or sold in the place of required one; none of the true  Unofficial drugs – with therapeutic use but not found in
substance is used here pharmacopeias
1. Organoleptic Evaluation – uses sense organs (eyes – color; skin
 Active constituent – substance that is responsible for the
– texture, consistency; nose – foul smell; tongue – bitter taste; ears –
therapeutic effect of crude drugs
sound of brittleness) to evaluate crude drugs macroscopically

2. Pharmacologic evaluation – uses bioassay (animal samples)