2. Collection
The drugs are collected suitably when they
contain maximum concentration of active
constituents.
The advantage of existing environmental
conditions are also taken into consideration
while collecting the crude drugs.
Skilled labour will collect crude drugs in a
highly scientific manner.
3. The following points are considered while
collecting the crude drugs:
Skilled labour will collect crude drugs in a highly
scientific manner. E.g. Digitalis, Belladonna,
Cinchona.
Season: The active constituents in the plants
are not constant through out the year. E.g.
Rhubarb contains anthraquinone derivatives on
the arrival of warmer weather only.
Age of the plant: The young plants of mentha
piperita contain more polygon and replaced by
menthone and menthol as leaves mature.
4. Continue…
Time: The leaves are collected before opening
of flowers, flowers just before they are fully
expanded and before pollination.
Stage of plant: Underground stem or roots
are collected when the aerial parts dies down.
Leaves, flowers, fruits are collected when
there is no dew or rain.
Free from pest and disease: Plant parts
should be free from pests, insects or diseases
and injury.
5. Continue…
Other part of the plants should be removed
from the collected materials.
Collection of bark is done after a period of
damp weather. Gums and gum resins are
collected in dry weather.
Fruits are collected depending upon the part
of fruits which is pharmaceutically important.
For eg., cardamom fruits are collected just
before their dehiscence; beal, after their full
maturity, while caraway, fennel & coriander are
collected, when they are fully ripe.
6. Continue…
Underground stem and root removed from soil
and washed in water before drying, or brushing is
done to remove soil on them.
Turpentine: Oleoresin and balsam of Peru are
collected when the plant is about 8-10 years old.
Opium and papaya latex are collected after
coagulation of latex.
Harvesting: Harvesting can be done efficiently by
skilled workers. The genuine plants or part can be
collected. The harvesting by digger or machines is
done.
7. Continue…
The underground drugs like roots, rhizomes,
tubers, etc. are harvested by mechanical
devices, such as diggers or lifters.
The tubers or roots are thoroughly washed in
water to remove earthy-matter.
The technique of beating plant with bamboos
is used in case of cloves.
Fennel, caraway, coriander plants are
uprooted and dried.
8. Continue…
Drying: Drying consists of removal of
sufficient moisture content of crude drugs. The
process improves its quality and make it
resistant to the growth of micro-organisms.
Drying inhibits partially enzymatic reactions.
Drying facilitates pulverizing or grinding of a
crude drugs.
The slicing and cutting into smaller pieces is
done to enhance drying. Eg. Glycyrrhiza,
squill, calumba.
The flowers are dried in shade so as to retain
their colour and volatile oil content.
9. Methods of drying
Natural drying (sun drying): Direct sun drying
i.e. Gum, acacia, seeds, fruits and natural colour
of drugs. For drying in shade i.e. peppermint
(volatile oil).
Artificial Drying:
Tray dryers: Hot air of the desired temperature is
circulated through dryers. Eg. Belladonna roots,
cinchona bark, tea and raspberry leaves, gums.
Vacuum dryers: The drugs which are sensitive to
higher temperature are dried by this process. Eg.
Tannic acid, digitalis leaves.
10. Methods of drying
Spray dryers
The technique is followed for quick drying. Eg.
Papaya latex, Tannins.
11. Garbling (dressing)
The next step in preparation of crude drug for
market after drying is garbling.
This process is desired when sand, dirt, foreign
organic matter are required to be removed.
The drugs constituting rhizomes are separated
carefully from roots and rootlets and stem bases.
Pieces of iron are removed with magnet in case of
castor seeds before crushing and by shifting in
case of vinca and senna leaves.
Pieces of bark are removed by peeling in gum
acacia.
12. Packing
The morphological and chemical nature of drug, its
use, effects of climate conditions during
transportation and storage should be taken in to
consideration while packing the drugs.
Eg. Aloe is packed in goat skin, colophony and
balsam of tolu – kerosen tins; asafoetida – closed
containers to prevent loss of volatile oil,
Cod liver oil, being sensitive to sunlight, should be
stored in such containers, which will not have effect
of sunlight, whereas, leaf drugs like senna, vinca
are pressed baled.
The crude drugs like roots, seeds are packed in
gunny bags.
13. Storage of Crude Drugs
Preservation of crude drugs needs sound
knowledge of their physical and chemical
proportion.
All the drugs should be preserved in well closed
in the filled containers.
They should be stored in water-proof, fire proof
and rodent-proof premises.
A number of drugs absorb moisture during their
storage and become susceptible to the microbial
growth.
14. Storage of Crude Drugs
The drugs should be protected from insects,
diseases, nematode, worms, moulds, mites,
micro-organisms, etc.
The drugs should be dried thoroughly before
storage.
The common fumigants used for storage of
crude drugs are methyl bromide, carbon
disulphide and hydro-cyanic acid.
Most of the drugs are preserved at low
temperature or in cold storage.
15. Storage of Crude Drugs
Some plant materials require sterilization
before storage.
Wooden boxes and paper bags should not be
used for storage of crude drugs.
16. Questions asked in GTU Exams
What care should be observed during storage
of crude drugs? (June’11)
What care is required to be taken during
collection and processing of crude drugs?
(Dec.’11)
What care is required to be taken while
collecting and processing of different crude
drugs? (September’09)
