The morphological and chemical nature of drug, its ultimate use and effects of climatic conditions during transporta-tion and storage should be taken into consideration while packing the drugs.
PACKING OF CRUDE DRUGS
The morphological and chemical nature of drug, its ultimate
use and effects of climatic conditions during transportation and storage
should be taken into consideration while packing the drugs. Aloe is packed in
goat skin. Colophony and balsam of tolu are packed in kerosene tins, while
asafoetida is stored in well closed containers to prevent loss of volatile oil.
Cod liver oil, being sensitive to sun-light, should be stored in such
containers, which will not have effect of sunlight, whereas, the leaf drugs
like senna, vinca and others are pressed and baled. The drugs which are very
sensitive to moisture and also costly at the same time need special attention,
e.g. digitalis, ergot and squill. Squill becomes flexible; ergot becomes
susceptible to the microbial growth, while digitalis looses its potency due to
decomposition of glycosides, if brought in contact with excess of moisture
during storage. Hence, the chemicals which absorb excessive moisture
(desiccating agents) from the drug are incorporated in the containers.
Colophony needs to be packed in big masses to control autooxidation. Cinnamon
bark, which is available in the form of quills, is packed one inside the other
quill, so as to facilitate trans-port and to prevent volatilization of oil from
the drug.
The crude drugs like roots, seeds and others do not need
special attention and are packed in gunny bags, while in some cases bags are
coated with polythene internally. The weight of certain drugs in lots is also
kept constant e.g. Indian opium.
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