Chemical tests for Myrrh MCQs With Answer

Chemical tests for Myrrh MCQs With Answer provide B. Pharm students a focused review of the phytochemical identification, standardization and quality control of Myrrh (Commiphora species). This introduction covers key keywords such as Myrrh, chemical tests, resin, gum, volatile oil, phytochemical screening, TLC/HPTLC, GC-MS, extractive value, ash values and pharmacognostic authentication. Emphasis is on practical analytical reactions, reagent-specific color changes and instrumental confirmation methods used in industry and research. Understanding these tests helps future pharmacists ensure purity, detect adulteration and interpret lab data for herbal formulations. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which class of constituents primarily gives Myrrh its characteristic aroma and is confirmed by steam distillation?

• Resinous acids
• Volatile oil (sesquiterpenes)
• Gum polysaccharides
• Tannins

Correct Answer: Volatile oil (sesquiterpenes)

Q2. The Molisch test is used on Myrrh extracts to detect which group of compounds?

• Proteins
• Carbohydrates (gums)
• Terpenoids
• Alkaloids

Correct Answer: Carbohydrates (gums)

Q3. Which reagent gives a violet ring at the interface indicating presence of carbohydrates in Myrrh?

• Ferric chloride
• Molisch reagent
• Liebermann-Burchard reagent
• Dragendorff’s reagent

Correct Answer: Molisch reagent

Q4. Which test is classically used to detect phenolic compounds and tannins in Myrrh by producing a blue-green color?

• Shinoda test
• Ferric chloride test
• Froth test
• Mayer’s reagent test

Correct Answer: Ferric chloride test

Q5. A persistent stable foam on dilution of a Myrrh extract indicates presence of which constituent class?

• Saponins
• Alkaloids
• Triterpenoids
• Carbohydrates

Correct Answer: Saponins

Q6. Which color reaction with Liebermann-Burchard reagent suggests triterpenoids or steroids in Myrrh?

• Pink to red
• Blue-green to green
• Violet ring
• Yellow precipitate

Correct Answer: Blue-green to green

Q7. Which chromatographic technique is most commonly used to generate a fingerprint profile for Myrrh resin components?

• TLC/HPTLC with specific spray reagents
• Paper chromatography for proteins
• Gel permeation chromatography for ash
• Thin-layer chromatography with ninhydrin only

Correct Answer: TLC/HPTLC with specific spray reagents

Q8. Which instrumental method is preferred to identify and quantify volatile constituents of Myrrh?

• UV-Vis spectrophotometry
• GC-MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry)
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy
• HPLC with refractive index detector

Correct Answer: GC-MS (Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry)

Q9. The Shinoda test is applied to Myrrh extracts to detect which secondary metabolites?

• Alkaloids
• Flavonoids
• Sugars
• Gums

Correct Answer: Flavonoids

Q10. Which extractive value is most relevant when assessing resin content in Myrrh?

• Water-soluble extractive value
• Alcohol-soluble extractive value (ethanol or methanol)
• Ash value
• Moisture content

Correct Answer: Alcohol-soluble extractive value (ethanol or methanol)

Q11. In standardization, high acid-insoluble ash of Myrrh indicates contamination with which material?

• Vegetable fibers
• Siliceous matter (sand/dirt)
• Excess resin
• Volatile oil loss

Correct Answer: Siliceous matter (sand/dirt)

Q12. Which reagent is used in a qualitative test for alkaloids though alkaloids are generally absent or low in Myrrh?

• Dragendorff’s reagent
• Fehling’s solution
• Molisch reagent
• Salkowski reagent

Correct Answer: Dragendorff’s reagent

Q13. Which test differentiates between gum and resin fractions in crude Myrrh?

• Solubility in cold water (gum soluble) and alcohol or ether (resin soluble)
• Reaction with Tollens’ reagent
• Protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid
• pH measurement

Correct Answer: Solubility in cold water (gum soluble) and alcohol or ether (resin soluble)

Q14. Detection of furano-sesquiterpenes in Myrrh volatile oil is best done using which spectral technique?

• IR spectroscopy for fingerprint region only
• 1H and 13C NMR combined with GC-MS
• Colorimetric ferric test
• Biuret test

Correct Answer: 1H and 13C NMR combined with GC-MS

Q15. Which reagent gives a red to violet coloration with anthraquinone glycosides (not typical in Myrrh) in Borntrager’s test?

• Ferric chloride
• Alkaline sodium nitroprusside
• Chloroform extract treated with ammonia
• Molisch reagent

Correct Answer: Chloroform extract treated with ammonia

Q16. Which organoleptic parameter is least useful in preliminary Myrrh authentication?

• Odor
• Taste
• Color of resin fragments
• Melting point of volatile oil

Correct Answer: Melting point of volatile oil

Q17. A negative Fehling’s test on a Myrrh aqueous extract indicates which of the following?

• Absence of reducing sugars
• High protein content
• Presence of volatile oils
• High ash content

Correct Answer: Absence of reducing sugars

Q18. Which color reagent is commonly used in TLC to visualize terpenoid spots from Myrrh after heating?

• Anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent
• Dragendorff’s reagent
• Biuret reagent
• Molisch reagent

Correct Answer: Anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent

Q19. For quantitative quality control of Myrrh volatile oil, which parameter is routinely measured?

• Loss on ignition
• Percentage v/w of volatile oil by distillation
• Protein nitrogen content
• Acid-insoluble ash only

Correct Answer: Percentage v/w of volatile oil by distillation

Q20. Which test would best indicate adulteration of Myrrh with added synthetic resin?

• Comparison of alcohol-soluble extractive values and TLC profile
• Molisch test for sugars
• Froth test for saponins
• pH of aqueous extract

Correct Answer: Comparison of alcohol-soluble extractive values and TLC profile

Q21. In pharmacognostic evaluation, total ash of Myrrh measures:

• Organic oil content
• Total inorganic residue after incineration
• Resin content
• Protein percentage

Correct Answer: Total inorganic residue after incineration

Q22. Which test helps detect phenolic glycosides by forming colored complexes with vanillin–HCl?

• Vanillin-HCl reagent gives color with phenolic compounds
• Mayer’s reagent for alkaloids
• Froth test for saponins
• Salkowski test for sterols

Correct Answer: Vanillin-HCl reagent gives color with phenolic compounds

Q23. Which parameter is essential to evaluate microbial safety of Myrrh raw material?

• Total aerobic microbial count and absence of pathogens
• Volatile oil refractive index
• Specific UV absorbance at 254 nm only
• Molisch test result

Correct Answer: Total aerobic microbial count and absence of pathogens

Q24. Which color change in Salkowski test indicates the presence of sterols in a Myrrh chloroform extract?

• Blue-green ring
• Red or brown at the interface
• Violet ring
• No color change

Correct Answer: Red or brown at the interface

Q25. The presence of gum in Myrrh is best quantified by which procedure?

• Determination of alcohol-soluble extractive value
• Determination of water-soluble extractive value and precipitation with ethanol
• Loss on drying only
• Acid-insoluble ash determination

Correct Answer: Determination of water-soluble extractive value and precipitation with ethanol

Q26. Which TLC mobile phase strategy is most appropriate to separate non-polar terpenes from Myrrh resin?

• Highly polar solvent such as water
• Non-polar to moderately polar solvents like hexane–ethyl acetate mixtures
• Strongly acidic mobile phase only
• Use of pure methanol only

Correct Answer: Non-polar to moderately polar solvents like hexane–ethyl acetate mixtures

Q27. A positive gelatin test indicating precipitation suggests the presence of which Myrrh constituents?

• Tannins
• Saponins
• Volatile oils
• Alkaloids

Correct Answer: Tannins

Q28. Which preservation-related parameter is crucial for maintaining Myrrh volatile oil integrity during storage?

• Keeping in open sunlight
• Storage in airtight amber containers, protected from light and heat
• Repeated heating cycles
• High humidity conditions

Correct Answer: Storage in airtight amber containers, protected from light and heat

Q29. Which analytical step can confirm identity of specific sesquiterpene markers after TLC isolation of Myrrh components?

• Melting point determination
• GC-MS or NMR analysis of isolated bands
• Molisch test on isolated band
• Froth test on isolated band

Correct Answer: GC-MS or NMR analysis of isolated bands

Q30. During quality control, a significant decrease in alcohol-soluble extractive value of Myrrh most likely indicates:

• Increased volatile oil content
• Loss or degradation of resinous constituents or poor storage
• Higher gum content only
• Improved purity

Correct Answer: Loss or degradation of resinous constituents or poor storage

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