JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B. Pharmacy II Year PHARMACOGNOSY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY-I Previous Question Paper (March - 2022 - R17)

The development of Pharmacognosy has evolved from ancient traditional practices to a modern scientific discipline. It began with the Ancient Era, where civilizations like the Egyptians, Chinese, and Indians (Ayurveda) documented medicinal plants in texts like the Ebers Papyrus and Charaka Samhita. During the Middle Ages, the focus shifted to the preservation of herbal knowledge by monks and the translation of Greek and Arabic texts. The Renaissance period introduced the printing press, allowing for the widespread distribution of herbals and botanical descriptions. In the 19th Century, the isolation of active constituents like morphine by Friedrich Sertürner marked the transition from crude drug usage to Phytochemistry. Today, the field integrates advanced analytical techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and biotechnology to standardize, authenticate, and explore the therapeutic potential of natural products.

Organized drugs are those derived from direct parts of plants, animals, or minerals and contain cellular tissues. They are typically obtained by simple physical processes like collection and drying. Examples include Digitalis leaves, Cinchona bark, and Clove flower buds.

Unorganized drugs are products of plant, animal, or mineral origin that do not possess distinct cellular structures. They are obtained through physical processes such as incision, extraction with solvents, or distillation. Examples include Acacia gum (exudate), Agar (dried extract), and Castor oil (fixed oil).