Introduction to Pharmacognosy - Practical

BP110P:

Introduction to Pharmacognosy (Practical)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Identify medicinal plants and crude drugs using morphological and microscopical characters.

2. Analyze powdered drugs and perform quantitative microscopy.

3. Evaluate crude drugs using physicochemical parameters.

4. Introduce standardization and quality control of herbal materials.

5. Collect medicinal plants and prepare voucher specimens.

COURSE OUTCOMES (CO):

Upon successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Identify medicinal plants and crude drugs using morphological and microscopical characters.

2. Analyze powdered drugs microscopically to identify diagnostic cell contents.

3. Perform quantitative microscopy for stomatal and vein parameters.

4. Evaluate quality and purity of crude drugs using physicochemical parameters.

5. Collect medicinal plants and prepare voucher specimens during field visits.

Detailed Syllabus:

List of practices

(Minimum 12 experiments must be performed)

1. Morphological study of medicinal plants (as mentioned in Unit V Theory).

2. Organoleptic evaluation and powder microscopical characters of the following drugs: Tulsi and Ashwagandha.

3. Organoleptic evaluation and powder microscopical characters of the following drugs: Amla and Arjuna.

4. Organoleptic evaluation and powder microscopical characters of the following drugs: Turmeric and Psyllium husk.

5. Organoleptic evaluation and powder microscopical characters of the following drugs: Brahmi and Fenugreek.

6. Determination of moisture content of crude drugs.

7. Determination of swelling index and foaming index of crude drugs.

8. Determination of stomatal number and stomatal index of leaf.

9. Determination of vein islet and vein termination number of leaf.

10. Determination of ash value and extractive values of crude drugs.

11. Determination of foreign organic matter of crude drugs.

12. Determination of dimensions of calcium oxalate crystals and phloem fibers by eyepiece micrometry.

13. Determination of dimensions of starch grains by eyepiece micrometer.

14. Experiential learning-based experiments involving collection, identification of medicinal plant material, preparation of voucher specimens and excursion visits to medicinal plant garden.

Recommended References (Preferably Latest Editions):

1. Evans, W.C., 2009. Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy. 16th ed. London: W.B. Saunders & Co.

2. Tyler, V.E., Brady, L.R. and Robbers, J.E., 1988. Pharmacognosy. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger.

3. Wallis, T.E., Textbook of Pharmacognosy. London: J. & A. Churchill Ltd.