The Collection of Medicinal Plants MCQs With Answer is a focused study resource for B.Pharm students preparing in pharmacognosy and herbal drug research. This concise collection emphasizes botanical identification, phytochemistry, active constituents, therapeutic uses, quality control, standardization, extraction methods, and preservation techniques. Questions are designed to strengthen skills in recognizing botanical names, microscopy, TLC/HPTLC interpretation, adulteration detection, and WHO guidelines for herbal medicines. Ideal for exam revision and practical lab preparedness, the set reinforces critical concepts like alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, flavonoids, saponins, and heavy metal testing. Clear answers aid rapid self-assessment and concept mastery. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which phytochemical class is primarily responsible for the cardiotonic action of Digitalis species?
- Alkaloids
- Saponins
- Cardiac glycosides
- Flavonoids
Correct Answer: Cardiac glycosides
Q2. Which plant part is official for the medicinal use of Cinchona officinalis (source of quinine)?
- Leaves
- Bark
- Seeds
- Roots
Correct Answer: Bark
Q3. In pharmacognosy, which test is commonly used to detect the presence of alkaloids in a plant extract?
- Molisch’s test
- Dragendorff’s test
- Foam test
- Lead acetate test
Correct Answer: Dragendorff’s test
Q4. Which solvent polarity is most appropriate for extracting non-polar volatile oils from a plant?
- Water (polar)
- Methanol (polar)
- Hexane (non-polar)
- Acetone (moderately polar)
Correct Answer: Hexane (non-polar)
Q5. Which microscopic feature is diagnostic for identifying turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder?
- Stone cells and calcium oxalate crystals
- Multicellular trichomes and mucilage cells
- Arillus and oil cells only
- Reticulate pollen grains
Correct Answer: Stone cells and calcium oxalate crystals
Q6. Which chromatographic technique is preferred for fingerprint profiling and quantification in herbal standardization?
- Paper chromatography
- TLC/HPTLC
- Gas-liquid chromatography without derivatization
- Thin layer with visual inspection only
Correct Answer: TLC/HPTLC
Q7. Which constituent class gives a positive foam test indicating saponins?
- Saponins produce persistent foam
- Tannins produce persistent foam
- Terpenes produce persistent foam
- Alkaloids produce persistent foam
Correct Answer: Saponins produce persistent foam
Q8. The WHO monograph for herbal medicines emphasizes which document for plant authentication and traceability?
- Pharmacopoeial monograph only
- Herbarium voucher specimen
- Patent documentation
- Local vendor certificate
Correct Answer: Herbarium voucher specimen
Q9. Which parameter indicates contamination by inorganic matter in crude drug analysis?
- Loss on drying
- Total ash value
- Acid-insoluble ash
- pH of extract
Correct Answer: Acid-insoluble ash
Q10. For drying medicinal plants to preserve active constituents, which condition is generally best?
- High temperature open sun for rapid drying
- Shade drying at moderate temperature
- Boiling in water before drying
- Freezing followed by thawing
Correct Answer: Shade drying at moderate temperature
Q11. Which family is correctly matched with its typical secondary metabolites: Fabaceae?
- Fabaceae — Cardiac glycosides
- Fabaceae — Isoflavonoids and alkaloids
- Fabaceae — Iridoid glycosides
- Fabaceae — Tropane alkaloids
Correct Answer: Fabaceae — Isoflavonoids and alkaloids
Q12. Which quality test detects residual pesticides in herbal raw material?
- Loss on drying
- Microbial limit test
- GC-MS pesticide residue analysis
- Total ash
Correct Answer: GC-MS pesticide residue analysis
Q13. Which extraction method is most suitable for thermo-labile antioxidants from plant material?
- Reflux with boiling solvent for long periods
- Maceration with cold solvent
- High-temperature Soxhlet extraction
- Dry distillation
Correct Answer: Maceration with cold solvent
Q14. A high tannin content in a herbal extract is best revealed by which reagent test?
- Wagner’s reagent
- Ferric chloride test
- Bornträger’s test
- Kojic acid test
Correct Answer: Ferric chloride test
Q15. Which plant part is typically used in herbal medicine for Aloe vera therapeutic applications?
- Roots
- Stem bark
- Leaf gel
- Seeds
Correct Answer: Leaf gel
Q16. HPTLC offers which major advantage over classical TLC for herbal standardization?
- Lower reproducibility
- Higher sensitivity and quantitative capability
- No requirement for sample preparation
- Inability to document chromatograms
Correct Answer: Higher sensitivity and quantitative capability
Q17. Which alkaloid is abundant in Atropa belladonna and responsible for anticholinergic effects?
- Quinine
- Reserpine
- Atropine
- Codeine
Correct Answer: Atropine
Q18. Authentication of herbal raw material often includes DNA barcoding. Which gene region is commonly used for plants?
- COI mitochondrial gene
- rbcL and matK chloroplast genes
- 16S rRNA gene
- ITS of mitochondrial DNA
Correct Answer: rbcL and matK chloroplast genes
Q19. Which measurement assesses the moisture content of a crude drug?
- Total ash
- Loss on drying
- Acid-insoluble ash
- Foreign organic matter
Correct Answer: Loss on drying
Q20. Which class of compounds is primarily responsible for the characteristic aroma in many medicinal plants?
- Flavonoids
- Volatile oils (essential oils)
- Saponins
- Alkaloids
Correct Answer: Volatile oils (essential oils)
Q21. Which procedure helps detect heavy metal contamination in herbal products?
- UV-Vis spectrophotometry for alkaloids
- Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
- TLC for flavonoids
- pH meter analysis
Correct Answer: Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
Q22. Which indicator reagent is used in TLC to visualize phenolic compounds after development?
- Ninhydrin spray
- Vanillin-sulfuric acid spray
- Dragendorff’s reagent
- Potassium permanganate exclusively
Correct Answer: Vanillin-sulfuric acid spray
Q23. Which factor most influences the concentration of secondary metabolites in a medicinal plant?
- Storage container color only
- Genotype, environment and harvest time
- Packaging font size
- Laboratory analyst’s experience only
Correct Answer: Genotype, environment and harvest time
Q24. The presence of calcium oxalate crystals in a powdered drug is primarily revealed by which microscopy technique?
- Fluorescence microscopy
- Polarized light microscopy
- Electron microscopy only
- Phase-contrast microscopy exclusively
Correct Answer: Polarized light microscopy
Q25. Which term describes deliberate substitution or contamination of a medicinal plant with cheaper material?
- Standardization
- Adulteration
- Authentication
- Pharmacovigilance
Correct Answer: Adulteration
Q26. Which test determines the amount of inorganic residue left after complete incineration of a crude drug?
- Loss on drying
- Total ash value
- pH of aqueous extract
- Extractive value
Correct Answer: Total ash value
Q27. Which class of secondary metabolites typically shows UV absorbance useful in HPLC detection at 254–280 nm?
- Terpenes without chromophores
- Phenolic compounds and flavonoids
- Sugars exclusively
- Aliphatic hydrocarbons only
Correct Answer: Phenolic compounds and flavonoids
Q28. Which preservation practice reduces enzymatic degradation of active constituents after harvest?
- Immediate hot-air oven drying at very high temperatures
- Quick shade drying or freeze-drying
- Keeping wet bundles in closed sacks
- Sun-drying with wet stacking
Correct Answer: Quick shade drying or freeze-drying
Q29. Which phytochemical test detects cardiac glycosides specifically by yielding a reddish-brown ring at the interface?
- Keller-Kiliani test
- Bornträger’s test
- Biuret test
- Fehling’s test
Correct Answer: Keller-Kiliani test
Q30. For comprehensive herbal quality control, which multi-parameter approach is recommended?
- Only macroscopic identification
- Combination of macroscopic, microscopic, chemical, chromatographic and DNA methods
- Rely solely on traditional knowledge without testing
- Only microbial limit tests
Correct Answer: Combination of macroscopic, microscopic, chemical, chromatographic and DNA methods
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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