[PSCI-10] Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, AYUSH Standardization & Natural Product Drugs
PSCI-10 • 6. PharmacognosyLearning Objectives
Map classic phytochemical identification tests (Mayer/Dragendorff/Vitali-Morin/Murexide for Alkaloids; Keller-Kiliani/Baljet/Legal for Cardiac Glycosides; Borntrager for Anthraquinones; Shinoda for Flavonoids).; Link crude drug botanical sources, families, and active secondary metabolites to modern clinical monographs ([3.33] Digoxin, [8.58] Artesunate, [12.33] Atropine, [6.10] Morphine, [6.18] Colchicine, [5.17] Senna).; Apply WHO and Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) herbal standardization parameters (Ash values, Extractive values, Foreign organic matter, HPTLC fingerprinting, Heavy metal & Aflatoxin limits).
Chapter Overview & Core Explanation
Pharmacognosy studies medicines derived from plants, microbes, and natural sources—many of the most important life-saving drugs in modern hospitals (artemisinin for malaria, digoxin for heart failure, morphine for pain, vinca alkaloids for cancer) originate directly from medicinal plants.
Key Exam & Clinical Takeaways
- The 1,2,4-trioxane endoperoxide bridge in Artemisinin derivatives ([8.58] Artesunate, [8.59] Artemether) is the essential pharmacophore cleaved by intraparasitic ferrous haem (Fe2+).
- Keller–Kiliani test specifically detects 2-deoxy sugars (such as digitoxose in [3.33] Digoxin), whereas Baljet and Legal tests detect the 5-membered α,β-unsaturated lactone ring.