Classification of Crude drug

The most important natural sources of drugs are ( higher plants , microbes & animals and marine organisms . Some useful products are obtained from minerals that are both organic and inorganic in nature .

To follow the study of the individual drugs , one must adopt some particular sequence of arrangement and this is referred to a system of classification of drugs . A method of classification should be :

A) Simple , B) Easy to use , C) Free from confusion & ambiguities .

Because of their wide distribution , each arrangement of classification has its own merits and demerits , but for the purpose of study the drugs are classified in the following different ways :

1- Alphabetical classification .

2- Morphological classification

3- Taxonomic classification

4- Pharmacological classification

5- Chemical classification

6- Chemo - taxonomical classification