Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad B. Pharmacy II Year PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY-I Previous Question Paper (August/September - 2022 - R17)

Unorganized drugs are crude drugs that are obtained from plants, animals, or mineral sources through physical processes such as incision, drying, or extraction, rather than being the intact plant part itself. They lack a distinct cellular structure and include products like dried latices, gums, resins, fixed oils, and volatile oils.

Mucilage: These are pathological or physiological products formed by the metabolism of plants. They are complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) that form a gelatinous mass when dissolved in water. They are typically obtained by extraction and precipitation. Examples include Agar, Isabgol, and Tragacanth. They are widely used as demulcents, suspending agents, and binders in pharmaceutical formulations.

Oleoresins: These are naturally occurring mixtures of essential oils (volatile oils) and resins. They are typically obtained by the extraction of plant materials using organic solvents. They possess both the aromatic properties of the volatile oil and the physical characteristics of the resin. Examples include Capsicum oleoresin, Ginger oleoresin, and Turpentine. They are commonly used as flavoring agents, carminatives, and in topical preparations for their rubefacient properties.

Drugs are derived from various natural and synthetic sources, primarily categorized into plant, animal, marine, mineral, and microbial origins.

Plant Origin: This is the most significant source of drugs. Drugs are obtained from various parts of the plant, including roots (Rauwolfia), leaves (Senna), flowers (Clove), fruits (Fennel), seeds (Nux vomica), bark (Cinchona), and whole plants (Digitalis). These contain active constituents like alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and volatile oils.

Marine Origin: The marine environment, including oceans and seas, is a vast reservoir of bioactive compounds. Marine organisms such as sponges, corals, algae, and mollusks are studied for their potential pharmacological activity. Notable examples include Carrageenan obtained from red algae (used as a thickening agent), Alginic acid from brown algae, and various anti-cancer or anti-viral compounds currently under clinical investigation, such as Cytarabine derived from marine sponges.