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Renin Angiotensin Mechanism.

Adulteration in Crude Drugs.

Definition of Adulteration :

  • It can be defined as a debasement of an article with a substance of similar physical properties but with less therapeutic or commercial value.
  • It is very common with costly and rare drugs and is done with the main intention of earning more profit.
  • Sometimes adulteration can be accidental also due to carelessness, lack of knowledge of workers or simply ignorance towards the job.
  • Adulteration can be characterized by following conditions,
  1. Spoilage: It indicates the development of microbial growth resulting in loss of drugs activity.
  2. Deterioration: It indicates loss of drugs potency due to improper storage or transportation.
  3. Inferiority: It indicates the addition of inferior material to the genuine drug.
  4. Substitution: It indicates partial or full replacement of the original drug with a substandard or local variety of drug.

Methods of Adulteration:

  1. Replacement by Exhausted Drug:  
  • It is very common with costly drugs which contain volatile oils as active chemical constituents, like clove, Ginger, fennel, Tea, etc.

  • The active chemical constituents are exhausted from these drugs & exhausted drug is adjusted properly (with artificial color, perfume) & mixed with the genuine drug.
  1. Substitution by Similar looking but inferior drugs: -
  • Any drug or variety which does not comply minimum standards laid down by the official books were known as inferior drugs or inferior varieties.
  • The inferior varieties hence contain lesser active chemical constituents and are cheaper in cost also.
  • e.g. Digitalis purpurea leaves are adulterated with inferior D. thapsi leaves.
  1. Substitution by artificially manufactured substances: -
  • This method is used for costly drugs.
  • e.g. Nutmeg is substituted with crafted softwood.
  • The addition of invert sugar to honey.
             4. Substitution by substandard commercial Varieties:-
  • In this method, the genuine drug is mixed with a local substandard commercial variety.
  • e.g. Capsicum annum is used to mix with Capsicum minimum.
  • Seeds of Strychnous nuxblanda are used as an adulterant in the seeds of Strychnous nuxvomica.
           5. Presence of Vegetative matter from the same plant: -
  • Sometimes ignorantly or intentionally other parts associated with the drug are added with the genuine drug.
  • e.g. Clove stalks are used as an adulterant in cloves.
  • Presence of stem parts with Aconite roots.
  • Parts Of inflorescence of fennel, caraway, and coriander are used to mix in fennel, caraway & coriander respectively.
  1. Addition of synthetic chemicals to enhance the natural characters: -
  • Addition of Citric acid to Lemongrass Oil.
  • Benzyl benzoate is added to Peru balsam.
7) Harmful adulteration: -
  • This is a dangerous type of adulteration where harmful substances are added to genuine drugs.
  • e.g. Rodent fecal material is added to Cardamom seeds.
  • Addition of amber colored glass pieces to Colophony.
8) Addition of Powders: -
  • This is very normal with powdered drugs.
  • e.g. Addition of Dextrin to Powdered Ipecac.
  • Addition of red sanders wood to capsicum powder.

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