JNTU B.Pharmacy IV QUALITY CONTROL AND STANDARDIZATION OF HERBALS Previous Question Paper (June/July - 2024 - R17)

The evaluation of commercial crude drugs is performed using the following parameters:

• Organoleptic evaluation: Assessment using sensory organs (color, odor, taste, size, shape, and texture).
• Microscopic evaluation: Examination of internal structures and cell contents using a microscope.
• Physical evaluation: Determination of constants such as moisture content, ash values, extractive values, and refractive index.
• Chemical evaluation: Qualitative and quantitative analysis using chemical tests and chromatography (TLC, HPTLC, HPLC).
• Biological evaluation: Assessment of pharmacological activity using bioassays or microbial assays.

Foreign organic matter refers to any material consisting of parts of the plant other than those specified in the official monograph, or any animal matter, or any other plant material that is not part of the crude drug. This includes impurities such as soil, stones, sand, dust, or other foreign botanical contaminants like insects, molds, or excreta.

The determination of foreign organic matter is performed using the following steps:

1. Weigh a specified quantity (usually 100 to 500 grams) of the air-dried, representative sample of the crude drug.
2. Spread the sample in a thin layer on a clean white surface or a glass plate.
3. Inspect the material under a magnifying lens or with the naked eye to identify and separate the foreign organic matter.
4. Collect all identified foreign matter and weigh it accurately.
5. Calculate the percentage of foreign organic matter using the formula: Percentage = (Weight of foreign matter / Weight of the sample) × 100.