Industrial production of phytoconstituents involves scalable methods to obtain bioactive plant-derived compounds for pharmaceuticals. This introduction highlights key concepts such as extraction techniques (maceration, percolation, supercritical CO2, ultrasonic, microwave), isolation and purification (chromatography, crystallization, spray drying, lyophilization), plant cell culture and bioreactors, downstream processing, solvent selection and recovery, quality control, standardization, GMP, and regulatory considerations. Emphasis on yield optimization, process analytical technology (PAT), scale-up challenges, and green extraction approaches prepares B. Pharm students for practical industrial roles. Understanding these principles ensures reproducible, safe, and high-quality phytoconstituent production. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary advantage of supercritical CO2 extraction for phytoconstituents?
- High polarity solvent for polar compounds
- Low selectivity leading to broad extracts
- Non-toxic, tunable solvating power and easy solvent removal
- Requires very high temperatures causing degradation
Correct Answer: Non-toxic, tunable solvating power and easy solvent removal
Q2. Which method is most suitable for heat-sensitive phytoconstituents requiring gentle drying?
- Spray drying at high inlet temperature
- Lyophilization (freeze-drying)
- Rotary vacuum evaporation at elevated temperatures
- Direct oven drying at 80–100°C
Correct Answer: Lyophilization (freeze-drying)
Q3. In acid-base extraction of alkaloids, which step helps convert alkaloid salts into free bases for organic solvent extraction?
- Acidification with dilute HCl
- Basification with ammonia or NaOH
- Adding salt to increase aqueous solubility
- Heating to 100°C to drive reaction
Correct Answer: Basification with ammonia or NaOH
Q4. Which chromatographic technique is commonly used for preparative-scale isolation of phytoconstituents in industry?
- TLC (thin layer chromatography)
- Preparative HPLC or flash chromatography
- Paper chromatography
- Capillary electrophoresis
Correct Answer: Preparative HPLC or flash chromatography
Q5. What is the main purpose of using an elicitor in plant cell culture for phytoconstituent production?
- Sterilize the culture medium
- Promote contamination to increase diversity
- Induce or enhance secondary metabolite synthesis
- Reduce biomass growth rate
Correct Answer: Induce or enhance secondary metabolite synthesis
Q6. Which parameter is most critical when scaling up extraction from lab to industrial scale?
- Color of the extract
- Solvent-to-solid ratio, mass transfer and mixing efficiency
- Shape of laboratory glassware
- Use of the same brand of chemicals
Correct Answer: Solvent-to-solid ratio, mass transfer and mixing efficiency
Q7. Which solvent is classified as Class 3 (low toxic) under ICH Q3C residual solvent guidelines?
- Hexane
- Methanol
- Ethyl acetate
- Acetonitrile
Correct Answer: Ethyl acetate
Q8. What is the role of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in phytoconstituent manufacturing?
- Only for final product packaging
- Real-time monitoring and control of critical process parameters
- Replacing all analytical laboratories
- Primarily used for employee training
Correct Answer: Real-time monitoring and control of critical process parameters
Q9. Which extraction technique uses cavitation to improve solvent penetration and mass transfer?
- Maceration
- Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)
- Supercritical fluid extraction without ultrasound
- Percolation at ambient condition
Correct Answer: Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)
Q10. For polar glycosides, which solvent system is generally most effective for initial extraction?
- Non-polar hydrocarbons like hexane
- Polar solvents like methanol or aqueous ethanol
- Supercritical CO2 without co-solvent
- Chloroform exclusively
Correct Answer: Polar solvents like methanol or aqueous ethanol
Q11. Which downstream unit operation is essential to remove fine particulates after bulk extraction?
- Chromatography
- Centrifugation or microfiltration
- Lyophilization
- HPLC analysis
Correct Answer: Centrifugation or microfiltration
Q12. What is a key advantage of hairy root cultures for phytoconstituent production?
- High volatile solvent requirement
- Stable, high-level production of root-specific secondary metabolites
- Require outdoor open-field cultivation
- Always produce uniform metabolites regardless of strain
Correct Answer: Stable, high-level production of root-specific secondary metabolites
Q13. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for quantifying marker phytoconstituents in a standardized extract?
- TLC without densitometry
- Validated HPLC-UV or HPLC-MS method
- Simple color test
- Unvalidated thin layer spot comparison
Correct Answer: Validated HPLC-UV or HPLC-MS method
Q14. What does yield optimization typically involve in industrial phytoconstituent production?
- Only increasing solvent volume endlessly
- Optimizing solvent choice, temperature, time, particle size and mass transfer
- Replacing extraction with fermentation always
- Using lower quality raw material
Correct Answer: Optimizing solvent choice, temperature, time, particle size and mass transfer
Q15. Which sterilization method is unsuitable for heat-sensitive plant cell culture media containing vitamins?
- Autoclaving at 121°C
- Membrane filtration (sterile filtration)
- Gamma irradiation of premade media
- Use of sterile components assembled aseptically
Correct Answer: Autoclaving at 121°C
Q16. In solvent recovery after extraction, which technique is commonly used industrially to recycle solvent?
- Simple open-air evaporation
- Vacuum distillation or rotary evaporators with condensers and solvent recovery systems
- Burying used solvent in soil
- Boiling without condensation
Correct Answer: Vacuum distillation or rotary evaporators with condensers and solvent recovery systems
Q17. What is the main purpose of standardization of herbal extracts?
- Improve color and odor only
- Ensure consistent concentration of one or more marker phytoconstituents and batch-to-batch consistency
- Reduce production costs by mixing random batches
- Avoid performing analytical testing
Correct Answer: Ensure consistent concentration of one or more marker phytoconstituents and batch-to-batch consistency
Q18. Which extraction method is most suited for rapid screening of many plant samples in a lab environment?
- Large-scale percolation
- Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) or microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)
- Industrial supercritical rigs only
- Open sun-drying followed by solventless pressing
Correct Answer: Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) or microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)
Q19. What is a critical quality attribute (CQA) for phytoconstituent-containing products?
- Employee lunch schedule
- Concentration of active marker, purity, residual solvents and microbial limits
- Brand logo color
- Number of manufacturing shifts only
Correct Answer: Concentration of active marker, purity, residual solvents and microbial limits
Q20. Which factor most influences solvent selection for extraction of a target phytoconstituent?
- Target compound polarity and solubility, safety and regulatory status of solvent
- Color of solvent bottles
- Availability of the solvent brand only
- Odor preference of the operator
Correct Answer: Target compound polarity and solubility, safety and regulatory status of solvent
Q21. What is the principle advantage of continuous counter-current extraction over batch extraction?
- Lower mass transfer efficiency
- Higher solvent utilization efficiency and better extraction yield per solvent volume
- Requires larger solvent quantities always
- Impossible to scale industrially
Correct Answer: Higher solvent utilization efficiency and better extraction yield per solvent volume
Q22. How does microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) enhance phytoconstituent recovery?
- By cooling the matrix to cryogenic temperatures
- Rapid heating of solvent and plant matrix causing cell rupture and improved mass transfer
- Eliminating the need for solvent entirely
- Only by changing pH without heating
Correct Answer: Rapid heating of solvent and plant matrix causing cell rupture and improved mass transfer
Q23. Which analytical test detects non-UV absorbing compounds like many lipids or saponins in HPLC?
- UV detector only
- Evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) or charged aerosol detector (CAD)
- Colorimetric spot test on filter paper
- Simple refractometer outside the HPLC
Correct Answer: Evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) or charged aerosol detector (CAD)
Q24. During crystallization for purification, what is the main driving factor for obtaining pure crystals?
- Rapid uncontrolled cooling always
- Controlled supersaturation and slow nucleation to favor selective crystallization
- Adding excess impurities to seed crystals
- Vigorous shaking to break crystals
Correct Answer: Controlled supersaturation and slow nucleation to favor selective crystallization
Q25. What is the purpose of validation in an industrial phytoconstituent manufacturing process?
- To make processes slower intentionally
- To ensure processes consistently produce product meeting predetermined specifications
- To reduce documentation and record keeping
- To remove the need for quality control testing
Correct Answer: To ensure processes consistently produce product meeting predetermined specifications
Q26. Which filtration membrane would be chosen to remove bacteria but allow phytoconstituent passage in a sterile process?
- 10 µm membrane
- 0.22 µm sterile membrane filter
- 5 mm mesh
- 100 µm non-sterile cloth
Correct Answer: 0.22 µm sterile membrane filter
Q27. What is one environmental benefit of green extraction techniques in industry?
- Increased toxic solvent discharge
- Reduced solvent consumption, lower energy use and improved sustainability
- Higher generation of hazardous waste
- Complete elimination of analytical testing
Correct Answer: Reduced solvent consumption, lower energy use and improved sustainability
Q28. When performing solvent partitioning for crude extract fractionation, which property guides partition selection?
- Boiling point of the solvent only
- Polarity differences and partition coefficient of target compounds
- Color compatibility with the extract
- Supplier price list exclusively
Correct Answer: Polarity differences and partition coefficient of target compounds
Q29. Which regulatory element is essential for industrial herbal extract production to ensure patient safety?
- Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance and documented quality systems
- Only marketing claims without evidence
- Limiting testing to visual inspection
- Keeping production records informal
Correct Answer: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance and documented quality systems
Q30. In plant cell suspension culture scale-up, which parameter must be controlled to avoid shear damage to cells?
- Excessive agitation speed and impeller design without optimization
- Never measure dissolved oxygen
- Ignoring pH control
- Adding toxic organic solvents to the medium
Correct Answer: Excessive agitation speed and impeller design without optimization
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