Chemical Classification of Crude drug

The crude drugs are divided into different groups according to the chemical nature of their most important constituent . Since the pharmacological activity and therapeutic significance of crude chemical classification of drugs is dependent upon the grouping of drugs with identical constituents . An out of this classification is as follow :

1. Carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones containing an unbroken chain of carbon atoms .

   1. 1. 1. Gums - Acacia , Tragacanth

         2. Mucilages – Plantago seed

         3. Others - Starch , Honey , Agar , Pectin , Cotton .

2. Glycosides – Glycosides are compounds which upon hydrolysis give rise to one or more sugars ( glycone ) and non – sugar, ( aglycone ) .

   1. 1. 1. Anthraquinone Glycosides – Aloe , Cascara , Rhubarb , Senna

         2. Saponins Glycosides – Quillaia , Glycyrrhiza

         3. Cyanophore Glycosides – Wild cherry bark

         4. Isothiocyanate Glycosides – Mustard

         5. Cardiac Glycosides – Digitalis , Strophantus

         6. Bitter Glycosides – Gentian , Calumba , Quassia

3. Tannins – Tannins are complex organic , non – nitrogenous derivatives of polyhydroxy benzoic acids . Ex : Pale catechu , Black catechu , Ashoka bark , Galls , Amla

4. Volatile Oils – Monoterpines & Sesquiterpenes obtained from plants . Ex : Cinnamon , Fennel , Dill , Caraway , Coriander , Cardamom , Orange peel , Mint , Clove , Valerian

5. Lipids –

   1. 1. 1. Fixed oils – Castor , Olive , Almond , Shark liver oil .

         2. Fats – Theobroma , Lanolin .

         3. Waxes – Beeswax .

6. Resins – Complex mixture of compounds like resinols , resin acids , resinotannols , resenes .Ex : Colophony , Podophyllum , Cannabis , Capsicum , Turmeric , Balsam of Tolu and Peru , Myrrh , Ginger .

7. Alkaloids – Nitrogenous substance of plant origin

   1. 1. 1. Pyridine and Piperidine – Lobelia , Nicotiana

         2. Tropane – Coca , Belladonna , Datura , Stramonium , Hyoscyamus , Henbane .

         3. Quinoline - Cinchona

         4. Isoquinoline – Opium , Ipecac , Calumba .

         5. Indol – Ergot , Rauwolfia .

         6. Amines – Ephedra

         7. Purina – Tea , Coffee .

8. Protein – Gelatin , Ficin , Papain

9. Vitamins – Yeast

10. Triterpines – Rasna , Colocynth