Introduction: Pharmacognosy forms the scientific backbone of Chinese medicine by studying medicinal plants, natural products, and their active constituents. For B.Pharm students, understanding pharmacognosy aids in accurate identification, authentication, and quality control of herbal drugs, familiarizing them with phytochemistry, microscopy, chromatographic fingerprinting, marker compounds, and pharmacological actions. Key topics include processing (paozhi), adulteration detection, standardization according to pharmacopeial monographs, safety and toxicity evaluation, and modern tools like HPTLC and DNA barcoding. Mastery of these concepts ensures safe, effective integration of traditional Chinese medicine into contemporary pharmacy practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary focus of pharmacognosy in Chinese medicine?
- Study of drugs from natural sources including medicinal plants and their constituents
- Design and synthesis of new chemical entities in the laboratory
- Clinical trial design for synthetic drugs
- Regulatory affairs for allopathic medicines
Correct Answer: Study of drugs from natural sources including medicinal plants and their constituents
Q2. Which examination is the first step in identification of a crude Chinese herb?
- Macroscopic (organoleptic) examination
- DNA barcoding
- HPTLC fingerprinting
- Pharmacological assay
Correct Answer: Macroscopic (organoleptic) examination
Q3. Microscopic features of powdered herbs help detect:
- Characteristic tissues, stomata, trichomes and starch grains
- Only volatile oil content
- Systemic toxicity in patients
- Clinical efficacy in specific diseases
Correct Answer: Characteristic tissues, stomata, trichomes and starch grains
Q4. Which phytochemical class commonly contains glycosidic cardiac actives used in some Chinese herbs?
- Cardiac glycosides
- Alkaloids
- Terpenoids
- Phenolic acids
Correct Answer: Cardiac glycosides
Q5. HPTLC fingerprinting in pharmacognosy is primarily used for:
- Comparative profiling and identification of herbal extracts
- Measuring blood levels of herbal constituents in patients
- Assessing pharmacodynamics in vivo
- Sequencing DNA of plant species
Correct Answer: Comparative profiling and identification of herbal extracts
Q6. DNA barcoding is particularly useful for:
- Authentication of plant species and detection of adulterants
- Determining moisture content of crude drugs
- Quantifying volatile oil percentage
- Measuring ash values
Correct Answer: Authentication of plant species and detection of adulterants
Q7. Which processing technique in Chinese medicine (paozhi) can reduce toxicity of certain herbs?
- Boiling, roasting, or steaming with adjuncts
- Freeze-drying without additives
- Direct injection into bloodstream
- Dry packing in synthetic polymers
Correct Answer: Boiling, roasting, or steaming with adjuncts
Q8. Total ash value in pharmacopeial testing indicates:
- Total inorganic residue after combustion and possible contamination
- Amount of active alkaloids in the herb
- Volatile oil fraction of a drug
- Protein content of the herbal material
Correct Answer: Total inorganic residue after combustion and possible contamination
Q9. Which analytical method is most appropriate for quantifying a known marker compound in TCM herbs?
- HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
- Macroscopic examination
- Moisture content by oven drying
- Organoleptic testing
Correct Answer: HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography)
Q10. Common marker compounds in Chinese herbs used for standardization include:
- Flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolic acids
- Only heavy metals
- Polymers and synthetic excipients
- Endotoxins and pyrogens
Correct Answer: Flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolic acids
Q11. Which adverse substance is a particular concern in some Chinese herbal samples and must be tested?
- Aconitine from Aconitum species (toxic alkaloid)
- Only water-soluble vitamins
- Endogenous plant sugars as toxins
- Inert cellulose fibers
Correct Answer: Aconitine from Aconitum species (toxic alkaloid)
Q12. Which parameter assesses the amount of extractable active constituents using a solvent?
- Extractive value
- Total ash value
- Moisture retention index
- Bulk density
Correct Answer: Extractive value
Q13. Which herbal quality issue is detected by microscopic examination of powdered material?
- Adulteration with other plant powders and foreign matter
- Exact therapeutic dose for patients
- Volatile oil content by weight
- Heavy metal content quantitatively
Correct Answer: Adulteration with other plant powders and foreign matter
Q14. A pharmacognostic monograph typically includes:
- Botanical description, macroscopic and microscopic characters, chemical tests and assay methods
- Only clinical trial outcomes
- Prescription patterns used by practitioners exclusively
- Marketing strategies for herbal products
Correct Answer: Botanical description, macroscopic and microscopic characters, chemical tests and assay methods
Q15. Which test is used to estimate moisture content in crude drugs?
- Loss on drying (LOD)
- TLC fingerprint
- DNA sequencing
- Pharmacological bioassay
Correct Answer: Loss on drying (LOD)
Q16. Which class of compounds is commonly responsible for bitter taste and many pharmacological effects in TCM herbs?
- Alkaloids
- Sugars
- Cellulose
- Inert resins
Correct Answer: Alkaloids
Q17. Which regulatory reference is key for standardization of Chinese medicines in China?
- The Chinese Pharmacopoeia
- United States Pharmacopeia only
- European Pharmacopoeia exclusively
- WHO guideline for synthetic drugs only
Correct Answer: The Chinese Pharmacopoeia
Q18. Which detection method is most suitable for volatile oil analysis in aromatic TCM herbs?
- Gas Chromatography (GC)
- UV-Visible spectrophotometry without extraction
- Loss on drying exclusively
- Light microscopy
Correct Answer: Gas Chromatography (GC)
Q19. Herbal fingerprinting aims to:
- Provide a comprehensive chromatographic profile for authentication and consistency
- Replace all pharmacopoeial tests entirely
- Measure patient compliance with herbal therapy
- Assess acute toxicity in animal models
Correct Answer: Provide a comprehensive chromatographic profile for authentication and consistency
Q20. Heavy metal limits in herbal drugs are assessed because:
- Contamination during cultivation, processing or storage can pose health risks
- They determine herb flavor only
- They indicate the herb’s potency directly
- They measure purity of active alkaloids
Correct Answer: Contamination during cultivation, processing or storage can pose health risks
Q21. Which of the following is a common adulterant concern for ginseng products?
- Substitution with cheaper Panax species or synthetic additives
- Excess volatile oils intentionally added
- High sugar syrup to increase weight deliberately
- Presence of bacterial contaminants only
Correct Answer: Substitution with cheaper Panax species or synthetic additives
Q22. Which staining reagent is often used in microscopy to highlight lignified cells in plant tissues?
- Phloroglucinol-HCl (detects lignin)
- Dragendorff’s reagent (for alkaloids)
- Biuret reagent (for proteins)
- Sudan III (for starch)
Correct Answer: Phloroglucinol-HCl (detects lignin)
Q23. Standardization of an herb by a marker compound ensures:
- Consistent levels of a defined bioactive for quality control
- Guaranteed clinical efficacy without further testing
- Absence of any side effects
- That the herb is free of microbes
Correct Answer: Consistent levels of a defined bioactive for quality control
Q24. Which phenomenon describes unwanted mixing of non-declared plant material into a herbal sample?
- Adulteration or contamination
- Lyophilization
- Standardization
- Paozhi
Correct Answer: Adulteration or contamination
Q25. Which analytical approach helps detect pesticide residues in TCM herbs?
- GC-MS or LC-MS/MS
- Loss on drying only
- Macroscopic examination
- Simple color tests for alkaloids
Correct Answer: GC-MS or LC-MS/MS
Q26. Which TCM herb is notorious for causing herb–drug interactions by affecting CYP enzymes?
- Ginkgo biloba
- White willow bark only
- Turmeric exclusively without interactions
- All edible vegetables
Correct Answer: Ginkgo biloba
Q27. Which parameter is NOT typically part of a pharmacognostic evaluation?
- Patient-reported outcomes from clinical trials
- Microscopic identity
- Foreign matter content
- Physicochemical constants like ash and extractive values
Correct Answer: Patient-reported outcomes from clinical trials
Q28. Which modern technique can provide high-resolution chemical fingerprinting of complex herbal extracts?
- LC-MS/MS
- Basic organoleptic testing
- Classical microscopy only
- Loss on drying method
Correct Answer: LC-MS/MS
Q29. Appropriate harvesting time of medicinal plants influences:
- Concentration of active constituents and overall quality
- Only the root color without chemical change
- Sterility for injectable formulations directly
- Inability to be processed further
Correct Answer: Concentration of active constituents and overall quality
Q30. Which WHO recommendation is important for traditional medicines in pharmacognosy?
- Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants
- Only synthetic drug manufacturing practices
- Mandatory animal testing for all herbs
- Prohibition of chromatographic testing
Correct Answer: Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants
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