HERBS AS RAW MATERIAL

DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACOGNOSY
MANIPAL (2009-2011)
CONTENTS:

 DEFINITIONS
 
 SOURCE, IDENTIFICATION AND
AUTHENTICATION OF PLANT MATERIAL

 DRYING

 PROCESSING OF HERBAL RAW MATERIAL

INTRODUCTION
 HERB:
plant whose stem do not produce woody, persistent tissue and
generally dies back at the end of each growing season
 HERBAL MEDICINE:
medicine made from plants used to prevent disease or promote health
 HERBAL MEDICINAL PRODUCT:
products consisting as active substance exclusively herbal drug/ drug
preparations.
 HERBAL DRUG PREPARATION:
preparation obtained by subjecting herbal medicine to treatment
 SELECTION, IDENTIFICATION & AUTHENTICATION OF
PLANT MATERIAL

 SELECTION:
selection of plant materials is performed by different approaches:
a) Totally random selection
b) Specific selection: using ethno pharmacological reports

c) Restricting the plants of interest to groups

a) Novel approach:
Computer based selection method, LIST, Botanical facts
chemotaxonomic information using NAPRALERT DATABASE
IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS
 Botanical identification
 By a taxonomist
 Disadvantages
 To be compared with:
 The current scientific literature
 An authenticated reference specimen
AUTHENTICATION
The proper authentication is critically important to safety and
efficacy of herbal medicine
Major methods employed in authentication are:
 Macroscopic examination
 Microscopic examination
 Physical examination

 Chemical examination
 Chromatographic examination
 DNA based technique using marker substances
 MACROSCOPIC EXAMINATION:
 Colour
 Size
 Odor and taste

MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
 Palisade ratio

 Vein islet no.& Vein termination number

 Stomatal index, arrangement of stomata

 Shape & structure of trichome

 Presence or absence of mucilage, starch or lignin

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
 Ash value and extractive
 Melting point and viscosity
 Moisture content
 Foreign organic matter
 Volatile oil content
 Solubility

CHEMICAL EXAMINATION
 Chemical tests

 Chemical assays
CHROMATOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION
 Thin layer chromatography-widely employed

 High performance liquid chromatography

 Gas chromatography
 DRYING
 It consists of removal of moisture so as to improve its
quality and make it resistant to micro organisms.
 Inhibits partially enzymatic reaction & dilution

 Facilitates grinding of crude drug

 Special methods like fermentation in case of

Cinnamomum zelynicum bark & Gentian roots

are required to attain standards.
 Slicing & cutting in to small pieces to enhance drying in

case of Glycrriza, Squill, Calumba

 Flowers are dried in shade to retain their colour & volatile

oil.
TYPES OF DRYING
 NATURAL DRYING

 ARTIFICIAL DRYING:
 Oven (tray dryer/ oven dryer)

 Vacuum drier
 Spray drier
TRAY DRIER
VACUUM DRYER
SPRAY DRIER
SPRAY DRIER
PROCESSING
 To preserve it for longer time and for better pharmaceutical
elegance.
 Should be carried out in clean environment
 All equipments used should be of SLS.

Steps involved are:

1. Dressing/ garbling
2. Packing
 Dressing/ garbling:
This is done when sand, dirt and foreign organic matter
not containing drug are present.
E.g. stalk in case of cloves, drug containing rhizomes is to
be separated from stem bases and rootlets, spices of bark
removed like gum acacia( Cinnamomum)
 Packing:
The qualities of herbal products should be preserved and
should be protected from climatic conditions.
E.g. Aloe packed in goat skin, Balsam of tolu & colophony
are packed in kerosene tins.