DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSYMANIPAL (2009-2011)

HERBS AS RAW MATERIAL

CONTENTS:

DEFINITIONS  SOURCE, IDENTIFICATION AND

AUTHENTICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL

DRYING

PROCESSING OF HERBAL RAW MATERIAL

INTRODUCTION

HERB: plant whose stem do not produce woody, persistent tissue

and generally dies back at the end of each growing season

HERBAL MEDICINE:

medicine made from plants used to prevent disease or promote health

HERBAL MEDICINAL PRODUCT: products consisting as active substance exclusively

herbal drug/ drug preparations. HERBAL DRUG PREPARATION: preparation obtained by subjecting herbal medicine to

treatment

SELECTION, IDENTIFICATION & AUTHENTICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL

SELECTION: selection of plant materials is performed by different

approaches:a) Totally random selectionb) Specific selection: using ethno pharmacological

reports c) Restricting the plants of interest to groups a) Novel approach: Computer based selection method, LIST, Botanical

facts chemotaxonomic information using NAPRALERT DATABASE

IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS

Botanical identification By a taxonomist Disadvantages To be compared with:

The current scientific literatureAn authenticated reference specimen

AUTHENTICATION

The proper authentication is critically important to safety and efficacy of herbal medicine

Major methods employed in authentication are: Macroscopic examination Microscopic examination Physical examination Chemical examination Chromatographic examination DNA based technique using marker substances

Colour Size Odor and taste

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION Palisade ratio Vein islet no.& Vein termination number Stomatal index, arrangement of stomata Shape & structure of trichome Presence or absence of mucilage, starch

or lignin

MACROSCOPIC EXAMINATION:

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION Ash value and extractive Melting point and viscosity Moisture content Foreign organic matter Volatile oil content Solubility

CHEMICAL EXAMINATION Chemical tests Chemical assays

CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION

Thin layer chromatography-widely employed

High performance liquid chromatography

Gas chromatography

DRYING It consists of removal of moisture so as to

improve its quality and make it resistant to micro organisms.

Inhibits partially enzymatic reaction & dilution Facilitates grinding of crude drug Special methods like fermentation in case of

Cinnamomum zelynicum bark & Gentian roots are required to attain standards. Slicing & cutting in to small pieces to enhance

drying in case of Glycrriza, Squill, Calumba Flowers are dried in shade to retain their

colour & volatile oil.

TYPES OF DRYING

NATURAL DRYING

ARTIFICIAL DRYING: Oven (tray dryer/ oven dryer) Vacuum drier Spray drier

TRAY DRIER

VACUUM DRYER

SPRAY DRIER

SPRAY DRIER

PROCESSING

To preserve it for longer time and for better pharmaceutical elegance.

Should be carried out in clean environment All equipments used should be of SLS.

Steps involved are:1. Dressing/ garbling2. Packing

Dressing/ garbling: This is done when sand, dirt and foreign

organic matter not containing drug are present.

E.g. stalk in case of cloves, drug containing rhizomes is to be separated from stem bases and rootlets, spices of bark removed like gum acacia( Cinnamomum)

Packing: The qualities of herbal products should be

preserved and should be protected from climatic conditions.

E.g. Aloe packed in goat skin, Balsam of tolu & colophony are packed in kerosene tins.