Evaluation of Drugs

1. ORGANOLEPTIC
EVALUATION OF DRUGS
Dr. V. Shunmuga Priya
Department of Biotechnology

2. EVALUATION OF DRUGS
 Confirmation of its quality
 Determination of quality and purity
 Deterioration of nature of adulteration
 Such an evaluation is carried out to know:
 biochemical variation in a drug
 deterioration due to treatment or storage
 substitution and adulteration.

4. ORGANOLEPTIC EVALUATION
• It is a technique of qualitative evaluation based on study of
morphological and sensory profiles of whole drugs
• Parameters for Evaluation
• Shape and size
• Colour,
• Odour
• Taste,
• Fracture
• Touch,
• Texture etc.
.

5. Organized Drugs
• The drugs obtained from the direct parts of the plants and containing cellular tissues
are called as organized drugs
 Barks - Cinchona, Cinnamon, Kurchi, Wild cherry
 Woods - Sandalwood and Red Sandalwood
 Leaves - Eucalyptus, Mint, Senna, Spearmint, Squill, Tulsi, Coca, Tea
 Flower - Clove, Saffron, Chamomile
 Fruit - Amla, Cardamom, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Star anise, Tamarind
 Seed - Black Mustard, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Nux vomica
 Bulb - Garlic
 Roots - Ashwagandha, Ginger, Ginseng, Turmeric, Valerian, Squill.

6. Un-Organized Drugs
• Prepared from plants by some intermediate physical processes - incision, drying or
extraction with a solvent and not containing any cellular plant tissues
 Dried latex: Opium, Papain
 Dried Juice: Aloe, Kino
 Dried extracts: Agar, Alginate, Black catechu, Pale catechu, Pectin
 Waxes: Beeswax, Spermaceti, Carnauba wax
 Gums: Acacia, Guar Gum, Indian Gum,
 Resins: Asafoetida, Tolu balsam, Storax, Sandarac.

7. Shape and Size
Flowers
Floral Parts- Stigmas, Corollas, Anther,
Ovary, Receptacle

8. Shape and Size
Leaves and Leaflets
Length, width, Apex, Margin, base
and Venation
The texture of the Leaf and the hairs
in upper and lower surface
The feel of the surface-Soft, Hairy,
Smooth

9. Shape and Size
Bark
 The Barks occur in three shapes
 Flat or curved pieces
 Single Quill
 Double Quills
 The barks have two surfaces - an outer and
inner.
 The inner surface is usually lighter than the
outer surface

10. SHAPE & SIZE
• The length, width and thickness of the crude material are of great
importance while evaluating a crude drug.
• A graduated ruler in millimetres is adequate for the measurement of the
length, width and thickness of crude materials small seeds and fruits may be
measured by aligning 10 of them on a sheet of calibrated paper, with 1mm
spacing b/w lines and dividing the result by 10.

11. SHAPE & SIZE OF CRUDE DRUGS

12. SHAPE & SIZE OF CRUDE DRUGS

14. SHAPE & SIZE OF CRUDE DRUGS

15. COLOUR
The colour is used in indicating the general origin of drug. e.g. material
derived from the aerial part of the plant is usually green and the underground
plant material is usually devoid of green colour.

16. TASTE
• True taste
* Acid (Sour)
* Saline (Salty)
* Saccharine (Sweet)
* Bitter
* Alkaline
* Metallic
• ·

17. TASTE
• False taste (Sensations to the tongue)
* Mucilaginous (soft slimy feeling)
* Oil (Bland smooth feeling)
* Astringent (Contraction of mouth tissue)
* Pungent (Warm biting sensation)
* Acrid (Unpleasant, Irritating)
* Nauseous (Induce vomiting)

18. ODOUR
• Indistinct
• Distinct
* Aromatic
* Balsamic
* Spicy
* Fruity
* Mouldy or musty
* Rancid
• Weak
• Strong
To an expert, odour and taste of crude material are extremely sensitive criteria
based on individuals perception.

22. Merits & Demirts
Merits
• More helpful to identify and detect adulteration
• More convenient for practical study especially when the chemical nature of the drug
is not clearly understood.
Demerits
• · The main drawback of morphological classification is that there is no correlation
of chemical constituents with the therapeutic actions.
• · Repetition of drugs or plants occurs.

24. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw6SOWq18Hw