Introduction: Unorganized drugs, especially dried extracts, are vital in pharmacognosy and herbal drug development for B.Pharm students. Dried extracts are concentrated phytoconstituent preparations obtained by solvent extraction and subsequent drying (spray-drying, lyophilization, or oven-drying). Understanding extraction techniques, solvent selection, yield calculation, marker-based standardization, quality control tests (moisture content, ash values, TLC/HPTLC fingerprinting), and stability implications is essential. Knowledge of physicochemical properties, formulation compatibility, and regulatory requirements ensures safe, effective herbal product development. This set of focused MCQs emphasizes analytical methods, processing parameters, storage, and identification of unorganized drugs and dried extracts to build exam-ready competence. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What defines an “unorganized drug” in pharmacognosy?
- Crude drugs lacking a fixed cellular or tissue arrangement, such as gums, resins, and oils
- Drugs composed exclusively of purified single chemical entities
- Any drug derived from a highly organized plant organ like leaf or stem
- Synthetically manufactured pharmaceuticals
Correct Answer: Crude drugs lacking a fixed cellular or tissue arrangement, such as gums, resins, and oils
Q2. Which of the following best describes a dried extract?
- A concentrated preparation of phytoconstituents obtained by solvent extraction followed by drying to a stable powder
- A fresh plant part used without any processing
- A volatile oil obtained by steam distillation
- A purified single alkaloid isolated from a plant
Correct Answer: A concentrated preparation of phytoconstituents obtained by solvent extraction followed by drying to a stable powder
Q3. Drug-extract ratio (DER) 5:1 indicates which of the following?
- 5 kg of extract produced from 1 kg of drug
- 1 kg of extract produced from 5 kg of drug
- 5% yield of extract from drug
- Ratio unrelated to extract yield
Correct Answer: 1 kg of extract produced from 5 kg of drug
Q4. Which drying technique is most suitable to preserve heat-sensitive phytoconstituents?
- Lyophilization (freeze-drying)
- High-temperature oven drying at 120°C
- Prolonged sun drying
- Hot air drying at 90°C for long duration
Correct Answer: Lyophilization (freeze-drying)
Q5. Spray-drying of plant extracts commonly requires adding which excipient to aid drying?
- Maltodextrin or other carriers
- Hydrochloric acid
- Sodium chloride
- Liquid paraffin
Correct Answer: Maltodextrin or other carriers
Q6. Which parameter is used to measure residual solvent in a dried extract?
- Gas chromatography (GC)
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
- Loss on drying only
- Visual inspection
Correct Answer: Gas chromatography (GC)
Q7. Which test is most appropriate for identity and fingerprinting of a dried herbal extract?
- HPTLC or HPLC fingerprinting
- pH measurement only
- Bulk density determination
- Moisture sorption isotherm
Correct Answer: HPTLC or HPLC fingerprinting
Q8. What does “extractive value” indicate in quality control of dried extracts?
- Amount of constituents extractable by a specified solvent from given drug weight
- pH of the extract
- Melting point of the extract
- Specific rotation of the extract
Correct Answer: Amount of constituents extractable by a specified solvent from given drug weight
Q9. Which solvent is commonly used for hydroalcoholic extraction of polar phytoconstituents?
- Water-ethanol mixture
- Hexane
- Diethyl ether
- Petroleum ether
Correct Answer: Water-ethanol mixture
Q10. Which of the following is a critical stability issue for dried extracts?
- Hygroscopicity leading to moisture uptake and degradation
- High melting point increase over time
- Conversion to organized plant tissue
- Becoming insoluble in all solvents
Correct Answer: Hygroscopicity leading to moisture uptake and degradation
Q11. When standardizing a dried extract, quantification of a marker compound is usually done by:
- HPLC assay against a reference standard
- Color comparison with a visual chart
- Measuring refractive index only
- Counting plant cells under microscope
Correct Answer: HPLC assay against a reference standard
Q12. Which parameter assesses inorganic contamination in dried extracts?
- Total ash value
- Water content by Karl Fischer only
- Optical rotation
- pH of aqueous solution
Correct Answer: Total ash value
Q13. A major advantage of converting extracts into dried powders for formulation is:
- Improved stability, standardized dosing, and easier formulation
- Loss of all active constituents
- Requirement for extreme refrigeration at all times
- Immediate conversion to single chemical components
Correct Answer: Improved stability, standardized dosing, and easier formulation
Q14. Which drying method can create amorphous solid dispersions and improve solubility of extracts?
- Spray-drying with carriers
- Sun drying without carriers
- Microbial fermentation
- Simple filtration
Correct Answer: Spray-drying with carriers
Q15. “Loss on drying” primarily measures which property of a dried extract?
- Moisture content or volatile loss upon heating under specified conditions
- Ash content after incineration
- pH change on standing
- Viscosity of reconstituted extract
Correct Answer: Moisture content or volatile loss upon heating under specified conditions
Q16. Which analytical method is best for quantifying low-molecular-weight volatile oils in an extract?
- Gas chromatography (GC)
- Gravimetric analysis
- UV-visible spectrophotometry at 600 nm
- Microscopy
Correct Answer: Gas chromatography (GC)
Q17. For dried extracts intended for oral solid dosage, which flow property assessment is important?
- Angle of repose and bulk/tapped density
- Boiling point determination
- Colorimetric pH strip test
- Electrical conductivity
Correct Answer: Angle of repose and bulk/tapped density
Q18. Microbial limits testing for dried extracts is performed to ensure:
- Safety by controlling harmful microbial contamination
- That the extract has zero humidity
- That the extract contains no phytochemicals
- That ash content is high
Correct Answer: Safety by controlling harmful microbial contamination
Q19. Which packaging practice helps protect hygroscopic dried extracts from moisture?
- Use of moisture-impermeable laminated sachets with desiccants
- Packaging in perforated paper bags only
- Exposing product to ambient air for aeration
- Mixing with water before packaging
Correct Answer: Use of moisture-impermeable laminated sachets with desiccants
Q20. In formulation, compatibility testing of a dried extract with excipients primarily checks for:
- Chemical interaction, stability changes, and potency loss
- Color matching only
- Reduction of ash value
- Increase in plant cell count
Correct Answer: Chemical interaction, stability changes, and potency loss
Q21. Which parameter indicates the concentration of active constituents in an extract batch-to-batch?
- Assay of marker compound (e.g., % w/w by HPLC)
- Visual color intensity alone
- Bulk density only
- Moisture sorption exclusively
Correct Answer: Assay of marker compound (e.g., % w/w by HPLC)
Q22. Which of the following is a common carrier used for spray-drying botanical extracts to prevent stickiness?
- Maltodextrin or gum arabic
- Sodium hydroxide
- Acetonitrile
- Liquid paraffin
Correct Answer: Maltodextrin or gum arabic
Q23. What is the purpose of defatting a plant material before extraction for certain extracts?
- Remove nonpolar lipids that interfere with desired constituent extraction
- Increase ash content dramatically
- Convert alkaloids into esters
- Sterilize the plant material completely
Correct Answer: Remove nonpolar lipids that interfere with desired constituent extraction
Q24. Which regulatory documentation is important for dried herbal extracts used in marketed products?
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) including assay, contaminants, and microbial limits
- Only a handwritten note from the collector
- Ingredient list without any analytical data
- Only photos of raw plants
Correct Answer: Certificate of Analysis (CoA) including assay, contaminants, and microbial limits
Q25. Which test can detect adulteration of dried extracts with cheap bulking agents?
- Chromatographic fingerprinting and marker assays
- Measuring boiling point of the powder
- Checking magnetic susceptibility
- Counting number of particles under 1 mm
Correct Answer: Chromatographic fingerprinting and marker assays
Q26. Which drying method tends to give the most porous and rapidly reconstitutable extract powder?
- Spray-drying
- Hot air oven drying at high temperature
- Manual sun drying
- Simple vacuum filtration without drying
Correct Answer: Spray-drying
Q27. Stability-indicating assay for a dried extract should be able to:
- Differentiate between intact marker and its degradation products
- Only measure moisture content
- Only determine color uniformity
- Detect the number of plant cells present
Correct Answer: Differentiate between intact marker and its degradation products
Q28. Which of the following is a likely effect of prolonged exposure of extracts to light?
- Photodegradation of light-sensitive constituents leading to potency loss
- Increase in extractive value
- Transformation into organized tissues
- Reduced ash value only
Correct Answer: Photodegradation of light-sensitive constituents leading to potency loss
Q29. For calculating percent yield of a dried extract, which formula is correct?
- (Weight of dried extract / Weight of starting crude drug) × 100
- (Weight of solvent used / Weight of extract) × 100
- (Volume of extract / Weight of drug) × 100
- (Ash value / Moisture content) × 100
Correct Answer: (Weight of dried extract / Weight of starting crude drug) × 100
Q30. Which preservative consideration is important when storing dried extracts long-term?
- Control of moisture, temperature, light exposure, and use of appropriate inert packaging
- Storing at ambient humidity and high temperature to accelerate drying
- Constant agitation to keep powder aerated
- Mixing with aqueous solutions prior to storage
Correct Answer: Control of moisture, temperature, light exposure, and use of appropriate inert packaging
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.
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