It is, however, important to mention here that the living organism of the universe may be regarded as mother natures

splendid and huge biosynthetic laboratory. I not only caters for the survival of the so called living creatures of the earth in terms of providing a broad spectrum of essential chemical constituents, for instance : protein, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins but also meticulously bring forth an enormous quantum of physiologically active chemical entities, such as : alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oil (terpenoids), steroid, antibiotics, bitter principles, tannin and the like The living organisms give rise to a number of interesting phytochemical aspect over the years that may be viewed closely under the following three heads, namely : (i) Constituents (ii) Drug biosynthesis (or biogenesis) and (iii) Classification 1.4.1 Constituents The huge number of chemical substance that are present in the plant-kingdom and animal kingdom in one form or the other are termed as constituents. These constituents may be further divided into two main categories, namely : a. active constituents b. inert constituents 1.4.1.1 Active Constituents The chemical entities that are solely responsible for existing pharmacological, microbial or in a broader-senses therapeutic activities are usually termed as active constituents . most drugs like : alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, bitter principles are bonafide member of this particular category. 1.4.1.2 Inert Constituents The chemical compounds, though present in plant and animal kingdom, which do not possess any definite therapeutic values as such but are useful as an adjuct either in the formulation of a drug or in surgery are collectively know as inert constituents Examples : a. Plant Drugs : the following inert constituents are invariably present in plants, namely : Cellulose : microcrystalline forms of cellulose are used as combination binder-disintegrants in tabletting. Colloidal cellulose particles aid in stabilization and emulsification of liquid. Lignin : to precipitate proteins, and to stablise asphalt emulsions Suberin : esters of higher monohydric alcohol and fatty acids Cutin : -doStrach : as pharmaceutic aid i.e ; tablet filler, binder and disintegrant Albumin : soybean albumins-as emulsifiers

Colouring Matters : cochineal for colouring food product and pharmaceutical b. Animal drugs : the under mentioned inert constituents are mostly present in animals, namely : Keratin : for coating enteric pills that the unaffected in the stomach but dissolved by the alkaline into intestinal secretion Chitin : Deacylated chitin (chitosan)- for treatment of water ; sulphated chitin-as anticoagulant in laboratory animals It has been observed that the very presence of inert constituents either act toward modifying or check the absorbance and the therapeutic index of the active constituents. Obviously, to get at the right active constituents one has to get rid of he host of inert constituents by adopting various known methods of separation, purification and crystallization. Therefore, most literatures invariably refer to the former as secondary plant product. the presence of these secondary plant product (active constituents) are governed by two school of thoughts, namely : (a) Superfluous metabolites : i.e., substances that have no value as such and perhaps their presence are due to the lack of exceretory mechanism in them and ultimately result as the residual lock-up superfluous metabolites, and (b) characteristic metabolites : i.e., substance which exert a positive survival value on the plants wherein they are actually present. They offer more as less a natural defencemechanism whereby these host plants are survived from destruction owing to their astringent, odorous and unpalatable features. Examples : poisonous alkaloidal containing plants; astringent containing shrubs ; and pungent volatile oil-containing trees etc.