Topic: Classification of Crude Drugs

Presented By : Arooj
 Crude Drugs:
Crude drugs refer to unrefined or minimally processed natural substances
used in traditional and modern medicine.
They can include various parts of plants (such as leaves, roots, bark, seeds),
animal products (such as glands, secretions, tissues), and minerals (such as
salts, clays) that possess medicinal properties.
 Classification of Crude Drugs:
Crude drugs are plant, animal or their parts which after collection are
subjected only to drying or making them into transverse/ longitudinal
slices pieces or peeling them in some cases.
They exist in natural form.
Crude drugs may be derived from various natural sources like plants,
animals, minerals and microorganisms etc.
 Because of their wide distribution the arrangement of classification in a
definite sequence is necessary to understand easily. Although each
system 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. Taxonomical classification
4. Pharmacological classification
5. Chemical classification
 1. Alphabetical Classification:
The crude drugs are arranged according to the
alphabetical order/form of their Latin and English
names. Some of the Pharmacopoeias and reference
books which classify crude drugs according to this
system are as follows.
1) Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 1955 (Latin)
2) Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 1966 (English)
3) British Pharmacopoeia (BP) (English)
4) British Pharmacopoeia Codex (BPC) (English)
5) United States of Pharmacopoeia (USP) (English)
6) European Pharmacopoeia (Latin)
 Example:
- Acacia, Agar - Benzoin
- Beeswax - Cinchona,
- Cinnamon - Digitalis
- Datura - Ephedra
- Fennel - Ginger
- Isapagol - Jalap
- Nutmeg
2. Morphological Classification:
Here the crude drugs are arranged according to the part of
plant or animal represented into organized (Cellular) drugs and
unorganized (Acellular) drugs.
Organised (Cellular):
Drugs are the direct parts of the plant and are divided into leaves, barks
wood, root, rhizome, seed, fruit, flower, stem, hair and fibers.
Unorganised (Acellular):
Drugs are the products of plant, animal and mineral source and they are
divided into dried latex, dried juice, dried extracts, gums, resins, fixed oils
and fats, waxes, volatile oil, animal products, minerals (Solids, liquids, semi
solids etc).
Organised [Cellular]:
Plant parts Drugs
Leaves Datura, Senna, Vasaka, Digitalis,
Barks Cinnamon, Cinchona, Kurchi,
Wood Quassia, Sandalwood, sanders
Roots Rauwolfia, Liquorice, Ipecac
Rhizomes Ginger, Podopl
Flowers Clove, Saffron, Pyrumun
Seeds Nux vomica, Linseed, Isapgol
Fruits Fennel, Coriander, Dill
Unorganised [Acellular]:
Plant, animal, Mineral Drugs
Dried latex Opium, Papain
Dried Juice Aloe, Kino
Dried extracts Agar, Catechu, Pectin
Gums Acacia, Tragacanth, Stericulia
Resins Benzoin, Colophony, Asafoetida
Fixed oils and fats Castor, Chaulmoogra
Waxes Beeswax, Spermaceti
Volatile oils Coriander, Cinnamon, Clove
3. Chemical Classification :
Here, the crude drugs are divided into different groups according to the
chemical nature of their most important constituent present in the drug to
which the pharmacological/therapeutic activity of drug is attributed.
Chemical constituents Drugs
Alkaloids Datura, Vasak Lobeli
Glycosides Cascara, Senna, Digitalis
Tannins Catechu, Myrobalan, Ashoka
Volatile oil Clove, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon
Lipids Castor oil, Beeswax, Arachis oil
Carbohydrates and derived product Acacia, Agar, Honey, Linseed
4. Taxonomical Classification :
In this system the drug are arranged according to taxonomical studies.
The drugs are arranged according to their phylum, order, family, genus and
species. It is purely a type of botanical classification or biological
classification and restricted mainly to crude drugs from plant source.
5. Pharmacological Classification :
Here, the crude drugs are grouped according to pharmacological action
(Therapeutic action) of their chief active constituent (most important) or
therapeutic uses.
Example: Bitter - Quassia, Cinchona, Gentian
Carminatives - Dill, Clove, Fennel, Coriander
Emetics - Ipecac
Anti-amoebic - Kurchi, Ipecac
Bulk Laxative - Agar, Isapgol
Purgatives - Senna, Castor oil
Expectorant - Liquorice, Vasaka, Ipecac
Antitussive - Opium
Bronchodilators - Ephedra, Tea
Thank You