What are Crude Drugs?
A crude drug is any unrefined substance, naturally occurring, that has been prepared from organic or inorganic resources, such as plants, animals, bacteria, organs, whole organisms, for the treatment or prevention of disease in humans or other animals.
Generally, the term “crude drug” applies to all products from plant and animal origin that can be found in their raw form. Also, the term crude drug can be used to include pharmaceutical products from the mineral kingdom.
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Classification of Crude Drugs
Although each classification system has its own merits and demerits, the crude drugs are classified in the following different ways for study.
• Alphabetical classification
• Morphological classification
• Taxonomical classification
• Pharmacological classification
• Chemical classification
• Chemo-taxonomical classification
• Serotaxonomical classification
1. Alphabetical classification
The order of crude drugs is based on the alphabetical order of Latin and English names. Some of the The reference books and pharmacopoeias which classify crude drugs according to this system are as follows:
• Indian Pharmacopoeia. (IP) 1955 (Latin) , (IP) 1966 (English)
• British Pharmacopoeia. (BP) (English)
• United States Pharmacopoeia & National Formulary, (USP) (English)
• British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
• British Pharmaceutical Codex.
• European Pharmacopoeia (Latin Titles).
• Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in Drugs and
Cosmetics.
Examples
Acacia, Benzoin, Cinchona, Dill, Ergot, Fennel, Gentian, Hyoscyamus, Ipecacuanha, Jalap, Kurchi, Iiquorice, Myrrh, Nux-vomica, Opium, Quassia, Rauwolfia, Senna, Uncaria gambier, Vasaka, Wool fat, Yellow bees wax, Zedoary etc.
2. Morphological classification
In this method, drugs are classified according to their part used. Morphological classification is further divided in two types.
- Organized Drugs
- Unorganized Drugs
A. Organized Drugs (Cellular)
These are the drugs obtained from direct parts of the plant and containing cellular tissues are called as organized drugs.
Examples according to plant parts –
• Leaves – Datura, Senna, Vasaka, Digitalis,
• Barks – Cinnamon, Cinchona, Kurchi,
• Wood- Quassia, Sandalwood
• Roots -Rauwolfia, Liquorice, Ipecac
• Rhizomes – Ginger, Podophyllum, Turmeric
• Flowers – Clove, Saffron, Pyrethrum
• Seeds – Nux vomica, Linseed, Isapgol
• Fruits – Fennel, Coriander, Dill
• Stems – Ephedra
• Hair and Fibres – Cotton, Hemp, Jute
B. Unorganized Drugs (Acellular)
The drugs which are prepared from plants by physical process such as incision, drying or extraction with a solvent and not containing any cellular plant tissues are called unorganized drugs. For example Latex, Tragacanth, Gum acacia, Bees wax, Shark liver oil, Gelatin Minerals Bentonite, Kaolin, Talc.
3. Taxonomical classification
In this method, drugs are classified according to their natural relationship and distinguishing characteristics. They are grouped in phylum, order, family, genus and species.
In this system, the drug is 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 restricted mainly to crude drugs from a plant source.
| Phylum | Order | Family | Genus | Species | Drugs |
| Angiosperms | Rosales | Rosaceae | Prunus | Amygdalus | Almond |
| Rhodophyta | Gelidiales | Gelidiaceae | Gelidium | cartilagineum | Agar |
| Gymnosperms | Genetales | Ephedraceae | Ephedra | sinica | Ephedra |
4. Pharmacological classification
In this method drugs are classified according to their therapeutic effects.
| Pharmacological Class | Drugs |
| Anticancer | Cinnamon bark |
| Purgative | Aloe, Senna, Castor oil |
| Antispasmodic | Belladona, Hyoscyamus |
| Expectorant | Glycyrrhiza, Tolu balsam |
| Cardio Tonic | Digitallis, Strophanthus |
5. Chemical classification
In this method drugs are classified according to their principle constituents.
| Sr. No. | Chemical Constituents | Drugs |
| 1. | Carbohydrates | Agar, Acacia, Tragacanth, Starch |
| 2. | Glycosides | Aloe, Senna, Glycyrrhiza, Digitalis |
| 3. | Volatile oils | Cinnamon, Fennel, Clove, Caraway |
| 4. | Alkaloids | Belladona, Hyoscyamus |
| 5. | Resins | Ginger, Asafeotida, Benzoin |
| 6. | Tannins | Black catechu |
| 7. | Proteins | Papain, Bromelain, Gelatin |
6. Chemo-taxonomical classification
In this system, equal importance is given for taxonomical status and chemical constituents. There are certain types of
chemical constituents which are characteristics of certain classes of plants.
E.g. Tropane alkaloids generally occur in most of the members of Solanaceae.
7. Serotaxonomical classification
Serology is defined as that portion of biology, which is concerned with the nature and interactions of antigenic material and antibodies.
The classification is based on similar plants by means of differences in the proteins they contain. For example, to know the closeness of the taxon A with B, C, D, E.
CONCLUSION
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