Pharmacognosy is the branch of pharmacy that deals with the definition, origin, chemistry, biological activity and standardization of drugs from natural sources. This concise set of MCQs with answers focuses on the definition of pharmacognosy, medicinal plants, natural products, phytochemistry, herbal drugs, identification, extraction methods, bioassays and quality control tailored for B.Pharm students. Questions range from basic definitions to applied concepts such as chromatographic fingerprinting, chemotaxonomy, ethnopharmacology and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). Each item is aimed to strengthen understanding, examination readiness and practical skills in pharmacognosy. Use these MCQs to revise core concepts, improve analytical reasoning and prepare for practical exams. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which best defines pharmacognosy?
- Study of drugs obtained from natural sources (plants, animals, minerals)
- Study of synthetic drug design and optimization
- Study of drug actions at receptor sites (pharmacodynamics)
- Study of clinical trial design for new drugs
Correct Answer: Study of drugs obtained from natural sources (plants, animals, minerals)
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a primary source of pharmacognostic drugs?
- Plants
- Animals
- Minerals
- Synthetic combinatorial libraries
Correct Answer: Synthetic combinatorial libraries
Q3. Phytochemistry primarily studies:
- Chemical constituents of plants and their biosynthesis
- Clinical evaluation of herbal formulations
- Microbial contamination in herbal drugs
- Pharmacokinetics of synthetic drugs
Correct Answer: Chemical constituents of plants and their biosynthesis
Q4. Which class of natural products is characterized by nitrogen-containing basic molecules?
- Alkaloids
- Terpenoids
- Flavonoids
- Glycosides
Correct Answer: Alkaloids
Q5. Glycosides are compounds composed of:
- A sugar moiety linked to a non-sugar aglycone
- A peptide linked to fatty acids
- Two or more aromatic rings only
- Amino acids linked by ether bonds
Correct Answer: A sugar moiety linked to a non-sugar aglycone
Q6. Which botanical identification technique relies on cell and tissue structure observation?
- Microscopic analysis of powdered drugs
- Pharmacodynamic testing
- Clinical trials in humans
- Formulation stability studies
Correct Answer: Microscopic analysis of powdered drugs
Q7. Which reagent is classically used to detect lignified cell walls in plant tissues?
- Phloroglucinol-HCl (Wiesner reaction)
- Mayer’s reagent
- Biuret reagent
- Benedict’s reagent
Correct Answer: Phloroglucinol-HCl (Wiesner reaction)
Q8. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in pharmacognosy is commonly used for:
- Fingerprinting and qualitative profiling of herbal extracts
- Measuring blood concentrations in patients
- Large-scale industrial purification
- Determining molecular weight of natural products
Correct Answer: Fingerprinting and qualitative profiling of herbal extracts
Q9. Which solvent is the most polar among the following for phytochemical extraction?
- Methanol
- Hexane
- Chloroform
- Petroleum ether
Correct Answer: Methanol
Q10. Standardization of herbal drugs includes:
- Identity, purity and assay of active constituents
- Only organoleptic evaluation
- Only traditional usage records
- Only toxicity studies
Correct Answer: Identity, purity and assay of active constituents
Q11. Which organization publishes internationally recognized monographs and guidelines for herbal medicines?
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Correct Answer: World Health Organization (WHO)
Q12. Adulteration of herbal drugs typically refers to:
- Presence of extraneous or inferior substances in the herbal material
- Proper authentication of plant species
- Standardized extract with known assay
- Controlled cultivation under Good Agricultural Practices
Correct Answer: Presence of extraneous or inferior substances in the herbal material
Q13. Which reagent gives an orange-red precipitate with alkaloids?
- Dragendorff’s reagent
- Biuret reagent
- Fehling’s solution
- Molisch reagent
Correct Answer: Dragendorff’s reagent
Q14. Which extraction method is preferred for thermolabile phytoconstituents?
- Maceration at room temperature
- Reflux heating for extended time
- Soxhlet extraction with boiling solvent
- Dry distillation at high temperature
Correct Answer: Maceration at room temperature
Q15. Which chromatographic technique is most suitable for preparative separation of herbal constituents?
- Column chromatography
- Paper chromatography
- Analytical TLC only
- Capillary electrophoresis only
Correct Answer: Column chromatography
Q16. Which cardiac glycoside is a well-known marker compound from Digitalis species?
- Digoxin
- Atropine
- Quinine
- Caffeine
Correct Answer: Digoxin
Q17. Which of the following is NOT typically considered a secondary metabolite?
- Proteins
- Terpenoids
- Alkaloids
- Flavonoids
Correct Answer: Proteins
Q18. Ethnopharmacology primarily studies:
- Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants by cultural groups
- Only modern synthetic drug discovery
- Quantitative determination of heavy metals
- Clinical trial endpoints for biologics
Correct Answer: Traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants by cultural groups
Q19. Which in vitro assay is commonly used to evaluate antioxidant activity of plant extracts?
- DPPH radical scavenging assay
- ELISA for antibodies
- Patch test for skin irritation
- Gram staining of microbes
Correct Answer: DPPH radical scavenging assay
Q20. Chemotaxonomy uses which characteristic for plant classification?
- Profile of secondary metabolites
- Only leaf shape
- Soil pH where plant grows
- Climate data alone
Correct Answer: Profile of secondary metabolites
Q21. Which drying method best preserves heat-sensitive phytoconstituents?
- Shade drying at ambient temperature
- Direct sunlight drying for rapid dehydration
- Baking at high temperature
- Open-flame roasting
Correct Answer: Shade drying at ambient temperature
Q22. Which modern technique can unambiguously identify plant species used in herbal drugs?
- DNA barcoding
- Only organoleptic evaluation
- Simple boiling point determination
- Classical folklore descriptions alone
Correct Answer: DNA barcoding
Q23. Which solvent is generally most effective for extracting polar phytoconstituents?
- Methanol
- Hexane
- Petroleum ether
- Carbon tetrachloride
Correct Answer: Methanol
Q24. The therapeutic index is defined as:
- Ratio of toxic dose (LD50) to effective dose (ED50)
- Difference between molecular weights of drug and metabolite
- Ratio of partition coefficient in water and octanol
- Percentage yield of extraction
Correct Answer: Ratio of toxic dose (LD50) to effective dose (ED50)
Q25. Which plant-derived alkaloid is a classic analgesic used clinically?
- Morphine
- Atropine
- Reserpine
- Emetine
Correct Answer: Morphine
Q26. Essential oils are rich in which class of natural compounds?
- Terpenes and terpenoids
- Polysaccharides
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
Correct Answer: Terpenes and terpenoids
Q27. Which treatment is commonly used to remove chlorophyll from extracts (decolorization)?
- Activated charcoal adsorption
- Heating to 200°C
- Adding concentrated sulfuric acid
- Lyophilization with sugar
Correct Answer: Activated charcoal adsorption
Q28. Which method is NOT a quantitative estimation technique for phytoconstituents?
- Qualitative spot test
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- UV-Visible spectrophotometry with calibration curve
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Correct Answer: Qualitative spot test
Q29. Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants are guidelines primarily issued by:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Food and Agriculture Organization only
- World Trade Organization only
- International Olympic Committee
Correct Answer: World Health Organization (WHO)
Q30. Chromatographic fingerprinting of a herbal drug is useful for:
- Assessing consistency and detecting adulteration or substitution
- Determining only the DNA sequence of the plant
- Measuring blood pressure in clinical subjects
- Replacing all other quality control tests
Correct Answer: Assessing consistency and detecting adulteration or substitution
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com