Dr. Shuchi MitraAssociate Professor

Rishikul Campus Haridwar

Recognition or pointing out

A person’s sense to identifysomething

Techniques in

identification of crude

drugs

Macroscopic methods

Microscopic methods

Physical methods

Chemical methods

Biological methods

Authentication

Organoleptic evaluation

Microscopy evaluation

Chemical evaluation

Physical evaluation

Biological evaluation

Authentication

Parts of plants collect like leaf,

flower, root, stolen

Regional status

FamilyBiological source

Chemical constituents

• Odour

• Taste

• Size

• Touch

• Texture

Microscopy evaluation

Leaf content

Trichomes

Stomata

Quantitative microscopy

Chemical evaluation

Chemical test

Chemical assay

Phytochemicalscreening

Moisture content

Viscosity

Melting pointSolubility

Optical rotation

Refractive index

Ash value

Extractive value

Volatile oil content

Foreign matter

Biological evaluation

Microbial contamination

Pesticides contamination

Pharmacological Pharmacological activity of drugs

Colour Greenish-brown

Odour None

Taste Intensely Bitter

Size 10-30mm In Diameter4-6mm In Thickness

EPIDERMIS Strongly Thicked, Pitted, Lignified

Collapsed Cells Present

Endosperm Unlignifie, Plasmodesma, AleuroneGraines

Calcium Oxalate Crystals Present

� Indian Pharmacopoeia

�Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India(vol-1to

11)

� Wealth of India

�Ayurvedic formulary(Part I, II, III, IV)

Sensory characteristi

cs

Physico-chemical

parameters

Qualitative Screening

Appearance Black ColouredUnpolished Pills

Taste Slightly Bitter And Acrid

Colour Black

Odour Fragrant

Solubility Water Soluble

Sensory characteristics

Parameter ValueForeign matter Not identify

Moisture content 1.0289%w/wTotal ash 18.063%w/w

Acid insoluble ash 11.86%w/wWater insoluble ash 4.386%w/wWater soluble ash 24.281%w/w

Water soluble extractable 46.879%w/w

Ethanol soluble extractable

9.93%w/w

pH value 5.32

SUBASTANCE PRESENT ABSENTAlkaloid √

Flavanoid √

Saponin √

Carbohydrate √

Sterol andterpenoid

√

Tanin √

Phenoliccompound

√

Anthraquinoneglycoside

√

� In ancient times macroscopic features were

used not only to identify the genuineness but

also to evaluate the quality of medicines. It is

a matter of great experience.

�Organoleptic “ Impression on the organs”

� Evaluation of a drug by

Ø Colour

Ø Odor

Ø Taste

Ø Occasionally the sound or snap of fracture

Ø Touch & texture

Morphological evaluation

Microscopicalevaluation

Qualitative evaluation

Color

Odour

Taste

Texture

Touch

Indicating the general origin of drug

Aerial part is usually green underground part is usually

devoid green.

Bhasma can be identified by colour.

� Indistinct- Bhasma

� Distinct- Amalki, Maricha

� Aromatic- Chaturjata

� Balsamic - Resinous

� Spicy- Pippali

� Fruity- Bilwa

� Rancid – Unpleasant (oil & fats)

�Weak - Gulab arka

� Strong - Karpur

Sample in the palm

Pour boiling water

Determine strength of odour (weak, strong etc.)

Odour sensation( aromatic, fruity etc.)

�Acid - Amalaki

�Saline – Arka Lavana

�Sweet – Sitopaladi Churna

�Bitter - Lavangadi Vati

�Alkaline –Yava Kshara

smooth, rough, guity.

soft or hard

bend or rupture

Formulation(churna)

Appearance

Color Odor Taste

Sitopaladi Powder Dull White

Fragrant Sweet & Pungent

Nimbadi Powder Yellowish Disagreeable

Bitter

Hingvastaka Powder Yellowish Brown

Pleasant Acrid

Amalkayadi Powder Brownish Grey

Pleasant Astringent, Saline &

SweetGairika Powder Red _ _

Kampillaka Powder Dull Red _ Acrid

Arka LavanaSankha Bhasma

KajjaliTriphala Powder

Giloyaghan Tablet

Triphala Guggulu

Formulation(vati)

Appearance Color Odour Taste

Candraprabha

Tablet Dark Brown

Pleasant Bitter

Sanjivini Tablet Black Pleasant Acrid

Lavangadi Tablet Blackish Brown

Pleasant Bitter, Astringent

Kaishoraguggulu

Tablet Blackish Aromatic Bitter

Tribhuvankirti rasa

Tablet Brown Faint Acrid

Anandbharava rasa

Tablet Reddish Brown

Pleasant Astringent

Formulation

Appearance

color odor taste

Ashokarista

Clear Liquid

Colorless Fragrant Sweet & Astringent

Amrtarista Clear Liquid

Colorless Fragrant Astringent

Karpurasava

Liquid Brownish Yellow

Camphor Irritative

Draksharista

Clear Liquid

Colorless Fragrant aromatic

Sweet

Color-Color-Black Green

Odor-Citric

Taste-PungentTaste-

PungentTouch-SmoothTouch-SmoothTexture-

HardTexture-

Hard

Formulation

Appearance

Color Odor Taste

Arkalavana

Powder Grey Odorless Saline

Narikelalavana

Powder Black Odorless Saline

Yavakshara

Powder Yellowish White

Characteristic of Lime

Alkaline

Palashakshara

Powder Grayish to White

Odorless Saline

Mulakakshara

Powder White Odorless Saline

Apamargakshara

Powder Dull White Faint Saline

Physical Chemical

Varna(color) Gatarasatva (tasteless)

Varitara(float) Nirdhuma(absence of fumes)

Rekhapurna(furrow filling) Apunarbhava(irreversibility)

Unama Nirutha (irretrievable)

Anjana sannibha(softness) Amla pareeksha(sour test)

Nischandra(lusterless) Aksharatwa(lack of alkaline taste)

Sukshmatva(fineness)

Dhatu Bhasma VarnaAbhraka Istika

Vaikranta Raktabha

Makshika Rakta

Vimala Rakta

Rasaka Rakta

Chapala Rakta

Kashisa Rakta

VARANA PAREEKSHA OF BHASMA

Sudhavargeeya dravya Shweta

Loha Pakwa jambuphala sadrusha

Swarna Champaka

Rajata Krishna

Tamra Krishna

Naga Kapota

Vanga Chandrama

Yashada Peeta

Kankshi Sweta

Kaparda Sweta

Crude drugs

90% from plant

sources

10 % from animal & mineral sources

� Starches: Amrita

� Fossil organisms, shell and minerals: Praval,

Shanka

�Hairs and Fibers: Cellulose

�Wood: Chandan

� Bark nad galls: Nimba, Babbula,

Arjuna,Cinchona

� Leaves: Talisa

� Flowers: Dhataki, Japa

� Flower bud: Clove

� Seeds: Almond, Black Mustard, Castor.

� Fruits: Ajowain, Coriander

�Whole plant: Kirathatika

�Rhizomes and Roots: Turmeric, Ginger.

�Unorganized acacia: Opium, Aloes

�Gums: Acacia

CelluloseReagent -Chlorine-iodine Solution

Color- BlueLignin:

Reagent -Phloroglucinol &concentrated Hydrochloric acid.

Color - redSuberin:

Reagent -Sudan Red-III

Color- red

For MucilageReagent- ruthenium red.

Color -Red

Rhubarb Rhizomes Reagent- 5% potassium hydroxideColor - Red

Strychnine Reagent -Ammonium vanadate & concentrated Sulphuric Acid.Color - Purplish-Red

�Red color –Ø Lauha bhasma- Pakvajambu phala ,

Heavy in weight, Rough in textureØ Abhraka - Ishtika varna, Smooth in

textureØ Swarna Makshika - Sindoorabha, Light

in weightØ Kashish – Bright Red Colour

ØGairika – Smooth, Light in weight

ØHingula – Japakusum Varna, Heavy in

Weight

Ø Rasa sindoor – Arunotpala, Heavy

Ø Kampillaka – like Ishtika Churna, Insoluble

in cold water, Soluble in warm water,

Float on water, Smooth, Burn with

cracking sound.

�Black –

Ø Rajata bhasma- Heavy, Smooth

ØNaga bhasma- Reddish Yellow, Heavy

Ø Tamra bhasma- like Mayukantha

Ø Kajjali – Smooth, Heavy

Ø Shilajatu - Cow’s urine odour, Burn without

fumes

ØNarikela lavana- Rough in texture, pH-8.5

ØMasi – Rough in touch

�Yellow color –

Ø Yashada Bhasma- Sweta Piitabha

Ø Trivanga Bhasma – Yellow

ØGandhaka – Sulphur Dioxide smell

�White color –

Ø Sankha Bhasma- pH is 6.3, Alkaline taste,

Smooth

ØMukta Bhasma – Smooth

Ø Prava Bhasma – pH-7.2, Slightly Alkaline

ØGuduchi Satva – Tikta taste, Smooth