UNIT - 3

CLASSIFICATION OF CRUDE
DRUGS
y Alphabetical classification

y Taxonomical classification

y Morphological classification
y Chemical classification

y Pharmacological classification

y Chemotaxonomical classification

y Serotaxonomy
 ALPHABETICAL CLASSIFICATION

y Arranged in alphabetical order of their Latin and English

names.

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION
Classified according to plants or animals from which they are
obtained.
Eg: Phylum – Spermatophyta
Division- Angiospermae
Class -Dicotyledons
Oder - Rosales
Family – Leguminosae
Sub-family- papilonaceae
MORPHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

y Grouped according to part of plant or animal

represented into organised and unorganised
drugs

Eg: seeds- nuxvomica,isabgol

leaves- senna,digitalis
barks - cinchona, cinnamon
 CHEMICAL CLASSIFICATION

Grouped according to chemical nature of their most

important constituent.

Eg: Glycosides - digitalis,senna

Alkaloids - nux-vomica, cinchona
Tannins - catechu, ashoka
 PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

Grouped according to their chief constituent or their

therapeutic use.

Eg: (i)Drugs acting on gastro intestinal tract:

Bitters – quassia,cinchona
carminatives- cardamom
(ii)acting on respiratory system:
Bronchoconstrictor :ephedra,tea
expectorants:liquorice
(iii)Acting on CVS:
Cardiotonics:digitalis
antihypertensive.:rauwolfia

(iv) Acting on ANS:

Adrenergic:ephedra
Cholinergics:pilocarpus
y Acting on CNS:

y CNS depressants: coffee,tea

y CNS stimulants:belladonna
y CHEMOTAXONOMY

y Establishes a relationship between position of plant

& chemical facts.

y Characters are flavanoids, alkaloidsetc