Sennoside – industrial production and use MCQs With Answer

Sennoside – industrial production and use MCQs With Answer

Sennosides are anthraquinone glycosides extracted primarily from Senna species and widely used as stimulant laxatives. This introduction reviews industrial production processes — cultivation, solvent extraction, purification, hydrolysis, and standardization — plus analytical quality control, regulatory considerations, and pharmaceutical uses. Mechanism of action, dosage forms, stability, formulation challenges, and safety profiles (including metabolism by gut flora) are summarized for B.Pharm students preparing for practical work and examinations. Emphasis is placed on process optimization, assay techniques (HPLC, UV), and environmental concerns during scale-up. This concise overview provides context for focused learning and exam practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which plant genus is the primary commercial source of sennosides for industrial production?

• Rheum
• Aloe
• Senna
• Cassia

Correct Answer: Senna

Q2. Sennosides are classified chemically as which of the following?

• Flavonoids
• Anthraquinone glycosides
• Triterpenoid saponins
• Alkaloids

Correct Answer: Anthraquinone glycosides

Q3. In industrial extraction of sennosides, which solvent is most commonly used for primary extraction from dried senna leaves/pods?

• Hexane
• Water or aqueous alcohol
• Chloroform
• Ethyl acetate

Correct Answer: Water or aqueous alcohol

Q4. The active laxative effect of sennosides depends on conversion by:

• Hepatic enzymes
• Gastric acid
• Colonic bacterial hydrolysis
• Pancreatic lipase

Correct Answer: Colonic bacterial hydrolysis

Q5. Which analytical technique is most frequently employed for assay and standardization of sennosides in industry?

• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC)
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Polarimetry

Correct Answer: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Q6. Sennoside A and sennoside B differ primarily by:

• Presence of an extra sugar moiety in A
• Stereochemistry at a glycosidic linkage
• One being an aglycone and the other a glycoside
• Molecular weight difference of >200 Da

Correct Answer: Stereochemistry at a glycosidic linkage

Q7. During industrial purification, which process is commonly used to remove colored impurities from crude sennoside extracts?

• Activated charcoal treatment
• Fractional distillation
• Precipitation with sodium chloride
• Centrifugation only

Correct Answer: Activated charcoal treatment

Q8. The pharmacological mechanism by which sennosides produce laxation is primarily through:

• Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase in the gut
• Stimulation of opioid receptors
• Stimulation of colonic peristalsis and secretion via mucosal irritation
• Osmotic retention of water in the colon

Correct Answer: Stimulation of colonic peristalsis and secretion via mucosal irritation

Q9. Which of the following is a key degradation concern for sennoside-containing formulations?

• Hydrolytic cleavage to aglycones leading to potency loss
• Oxidative polymerization increasing activity
• Conversion to glycosylated prodrugs
• Formation of volatile toxic gases

Correct Answer: Hydrolytic cleavage to aglycones leading to potency loss

Q10. In quality control of raw senna material, which test helps confirm the presence of anthraquinones?

• Ferric chloride test
• Bromine test
• Bornträger’s test
• Molisch’s test

Correct Answer: Bornträger’s test

Q11. The term “sennoside” commonly refers to which of the following in pharmaceutical monographs?

• A single pure compound only
• A mixture of dianthrone glycosides primarily sennoside A and B
• Any laxative derived from roots
• Only the aglycone rhein

Correct Answer: A mixture of dianthrone glycosides primarily sennoside A and B

Q12. Which parameter is essential to monitor during large-scale aqueous extraction to maximize sennoside yield?

• pH and extraction temperature
• Optical rotation
• Color of the solvent only
• Particle size of activated carbon

Correct Answer: pH and extraction temperature

Q13. In formulation, sennosides are often provided as which dosage form for over-the-counter use?

• Injectable solution
• Oral tablets or granules
• Transdermal patch
• Ophthalmic drops

Correct Answer: Oral tablets or granules

Q14. Regulatory monographs for sennoside-containing products typically require testing for which impurity class?

• Residual pesticides and heavy metals
• Volatile organic impurities only
• Synthetic peptide contaminants
• Radioactive isotopes

Correct Answer: Residual pesticides and heavy metals

Q15. Which microbial process in the colon is crucial for activating sennoside laxatives?

• Oxidative deamination
• Reduction/hydrolysis of glycosidic bond by bacterial glycosidases
• Nitrification
• Methylation by gut flora

Correct Answer: Reduction/hydrolysis of glycosidic bond by bacterial glycosidases

Q16. Which chromatographic detection mode is commonly used for quantifying sennosides in HPLC?

• Flame ionization detector
• UV detection at specific wavelength
• Refractive index detection
• Electrochemical detection only

Correct Answer: UV detection at specific wavelength

Q17. Industrial scale-up of sennoside extraction must consider environmental concerns primarily related to:

• Disposal of spent plant biomass and solvent waste
• Radioactive effluents
• Excess nitrogen release from fermentation
• Noise pollution from dryers

Correct Answer: Disposal of spent plant biomass and solvent waste

Q18. Which stability condition accelerates hydrolysis of sennosides in formulations?

• Low humidity and low temperature
• Acidic pH and elevated temperature
• Neutral pH and refrigeration
• Storage in amber containers

Correct Answer: Acidic pH and elevated temperature

Q19. A major quality control specification for powdered senna leaf includes limiting which of the following?

• Loss on drying and total ash content
• Melting point
• Viscosity
• Optical rotation only

Correct Answer: Loss on drying and total ash content

Q20. The aglycone formed after bacterial hydrolysis of sennosides that exerts local effect is commonly referred to as:

• Anthrone or rhein anthrone
• Quinidine
• Emodin sulfate
• Neo-anthracene

Correct Answer: Anthrone or rhein anthrone

Q21. Which factor influences the content of sennosides in cultivated Senna plants?

• Soil type, climate, and harvest time
• Altitude only
• Use of aluminum pots
• Time of day for extraction

Correct Answer: Soil type, climate, and harvest time

Q22. Which of the following describes an important safety consideration for chronic use of stimulant laxatives like sennosides?

• They cause severe liver failure in all patients
• Potential for electrolyte imbalance and laxative dependence
• They permanently increase colon length
• They have strong systemic opioid-like effects

Correct Answer: Potential for electrolyte imbalance and laxative dependence

Q23. During chromatographic assay, which reference standard is typically used for quantifying sennoside content?

• Pure sennoside A or B standards
• Paracetamol standard
• Salicylic acid
• Caffeine

Correct Answer: Pure sennoside A or B standards

Q24. Hydrolysis of sennosides to active anthrones can be achieved in vitro by which procedure for assay purposes?

• Acid hydrolysis followed by reduction
• Alkaline extraction without hydrolysis
• Direct GC-MS without derivatization
• Freeze-drying intact samples

Correct Answer: Acid hydrolysis followed by reduction

Q25. Which downstream processing step helps concentrate sennosides after aqueous extraction?

• Spray drying or vacuum evaporation
• Steam distillation
• Lyophilization of organic solvent
• Direct packing of dilute extract

Correct Answer: Spray drying or vacuum evaporation

Q26. In developing a tablet containing sennosides, which excipient property is most critical to avoid premature hydrolysis?

• High hygroscopicity
• Neutral pH and low moisture content
• Strong acidity
• High emulsifying capacity

Correct Answer: Neutral pH and low moisture content

Q27. Which international guideline or pharmacopeia commonly contains monographs for senna and sennoside preparations?

• British Pharmacopoeia (BP) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
• US FDA Code of Federal Regulations only
• ICH Q12 only
• European Medicines Agency orphan lists only

Correct Answer: British Pharmacopoeia (BP) and United States Pharmacopeia (USP)

Q28. Green chemistry approaches in sennoside production focus on:

• Using larger volumes of chlorinated solvents
• Solvent recycling, aqueous extraction, and energy-efficient drying
• Maximizing waste biomass incineration
• Increasing metal catalyst loadings

Correct Answer: Solvent recycling, aqueous extraction, and energy-efficient drying

Q29. Which in-process control is important during granulation of sennoside tablets?

• Granule moisture content and particle size distribution
• Magnetic susceptibility
• Optical clarity
• Electrical conductivity only

Correct Answer: Granule moisture content and particle size distribution

Q30. For microbiological safety, senna raw material should be tested for which parameter before use in production?

• Total aerobic microbial count and absence of specified pathogens
• Only presence of yeast
• Sterility as required for injectables
• Endotoxin levels only

Correct Answer: Total aerobic microbial count and absence of specified pathogens

G S Sachin

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