Medicinal plants besides therapeutic agents are also a big source of information for a wide variety of chemical constituents which could be developed as drugs with precise selectivity. Podophyllum resin is a mixture of resins obtained from the rhizomes and roots of the herbaceous plant Podophyllum hexandrum Royle (P. emodi Wall.) or P. peltatum L. after percolation with ethanol and precipitation from water or very dilute acids.

1. Quality Control & Standardization
Of Herbals
Basic Tests For Drugs (Medicinal Plants)
By
Kaushal Kumar

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 02 03 04
Introduction Identity Test Description Procedure

3. Medicinal plants besides therapeutic agents are
also a big source of information for a wide
variety of chemical constituents which could be
developed as drugs with precise selectivity.
Podophyllum resin is a mixture of resins
obtained from the rhizomes and roots of the
herbaceous plant Podophyllum hexandrum
Royle (P. emodi Wall.) or P. peltatum L. after
percolation with ethanol and precipitation from
water or very dilute acids.
INTRODUCTION

4. Identity Tests :
Description : Light brown to greenish-yellow or brownish-grey masses or amorphous powder.
Melting Point : About 184°C.
Note : This material is very toxic and should be handled with care.
Podophyllum Resin
Procedure
Finely powder the resin, dissolve about 0.2 gm in 10 ml of potassium hydroxide
Yellow solution is formed which darkens on standing.
Acidify with HCL
Resin precipitate is formed

5. Identity Tests :
Description : Light brown to greenish-yellow masses or an amorphous powder.
Melting Point : About 184°C.
Note : This material is very toxic and should be handled with care.
Podophyllum Resin
Procedure
Dissolve 10 mg in 2 ml of ethanol
Add 1 drop of ferric chloride
Dark green color is produced and the solution appears black in reflected light.

6. Senna Fruit
Senna is a plant that offers fruit and leaves which have rich medicinal values. Its has laxative
properties.
Composition: Senna fruit is the dried ripe fruit of Cassia senna
Identity tests -
Description: Odor slight; taste, first mucilaginous and sweet, then slightly bitter.
Macroscopic characteristics:
Leaf-like, flat, and thin pods, yellowish-green to yellowish-brown with a dark brown central area.
Alexandrian Senna fruit: Pale to greyish green;
Length about 40-50 mm
Width 20-25 mm.
Tinnevelly Senna fruit: Brown to greyish black
Length about 35-60 mm
Width 14-18 mm.

7. Identity Tests :
Description : Light brown to greenish-yellow or brownish-grey or an amorphous powder.
Melting Point : About 184°C.
Note : This material is very toxic and should be handled with care.
Senna Fruit
Procedure
Sprinkle 10 mg of the powdered fruit on the surface of about 1 ml of H2so4
Without stirring within 5 minutes a greenish to brownish color appears
Other color - Red indicate the presence of other species. Eg. C. auriculata
Degradation test: Discoloration of the test material usually indicates gross degradation.

8. Ipecacuanha Root
Composition: Ipecacuanha root is the dried rhizome and roots of the shrub Cephaelis ipecacuanha (Brotero) A. Richard (family
Rubiaceae)
Identity tests:
Description: Slightly bitter taste, Odour – nauseous and acrid.
Macroscopic characteristics:
Ipecacuanha: Dark brick-red to very dark brown. More than 15 cm in length or 6 mm in
diameter; the root is closely annulated externally, The fracture is short in the bark and
splintery in the wood.
Acuminate: It resembles the root of C. ipecacuanha, but differs in the following. particulars:
often up to 9 mm in diameter, the external surface is greyish brown or reddish-brown.

9. Identity Tests :
Description : Light brown to greenish-yellow or brownish-grey masses or amorphous powder.
Melting Point : About 184°C.
Note : This material is very toxic and should be handled with care.
Ipecacuanha Root
Procedure
Coarsely powder the root, mix 0.05 gm with about 2 ml of HCL
Add 1 drop of hydrogen peroxide and warm the mixture
Orange color is produced

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