Comparative study – British Herbal Pharmacopoeia MCQs With Answer

Introduction: This comparative MCQ set focuses on the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP) and its relationship to other pharmacopoeial standards, particularly the British Pharmacopoeia (BP). Aimed at M.Pharm students studying Herbal and Cosmetic Analysis (MPA 204T), the questions emphasize monograph structure, identification and assay methods, quality control parameters, standardization approaches, botanical nomenclature, extraction and marker compound considerations, and regulatory implications. These MCQs are designed to deepen conceptual understanding, test applied knowledge in analytical techniques, and prepare students for practical and exam scenarios involving herbal drug evaluation and comparative pharmacopoeial interpretation.

Q1. Which statement best describes the primary focus of the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP) compared to the British Pharmacopoeia (BP)?

• Comprehensive monographs for synthetic pharmaceuticals with emphasis on formulations
• Monographs for medicinal plants including traditional uses and herbal preparations
• Regulatory guidelines for clinical trials of herbal products only
• General pharmacology texts for education purposes

Correct Answer: Monographs for medicinal plants including traditional uses and herbal preparations

Q2. Which element is more emphasized in a BHP monograph than in a typical BP monograph?

• Assay of a single pure synthetic active ingredient
• Botanical identification, including macroscopic and microscopic features
• Sterility testing for injectable products
• In vivo pharmacokinetic data

Correct Answer: Botanical identification, including macroscopic and microscopic features

Q3. In a comparative context, which type of test is commonly unique to herbal pharmacopoeial standards like BHP?

• Loss on drying
• Foreign matter and botanical purity assessment
• pH of aqueous solution
• Heavy metal limits expressed only as mg/kg

Correct Answer: Foreign matter and botanical purity assessment

Q4. Which analytical technique is often recommended by the BHP for fingerprinting complex herbal extracts?

• Potentiometric titration
• High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) or HPLC fingerprinting
• Simple UV spectrophotometry at single wavelength
• Paper chromatography for quantitative assay

Correct Answer: High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) or HPLC fingerprinting

Q5. How does BHP typically express assay requirements for herbal drugs compared with BP assay approaches?

• Only absolute purity and weight percentage of all constituents
• Quantification of marker compounds or marker ranges rather than a single defined API potency
• No quantitative requirements, only organoleptic descriptions
• Only biological assays are accepted

Correct Answer: Quantification of marker compounds or marker ranges rather than a single defined API potency

Q6. Which of the following is a common feature of BHP monographs regarding plant part specification?

• Plant part is not specified; whole plant is assumed
• Explicit specification of the plant part used (e.g., leaf, root, rhizome) and its state (dried, fresh, powdered)
• Only the genus is mentioned; species and part omitted
• Only traditional preparation method described without plant part

Correct Answer: Explicit specification of the plant part used (e.g., leaf, root, rhizome) and its state (dried, fresh, powdered)

Q7. When comparing contaminants testing between BHP and BP, which statement is correct?

• BHP ignores pesticide residues while BP mandates them
• BHP includes specific guidance on common herb-related contaminants (pesticides, aflatoxins, microbial limits) tailored to herbal materials
• BP covers microbial limits only for herbal products
• BHP requires radiochemical testing for all herbs

Correct Answer: BHP includes specific guidance on common herb-related contaminants (pesticides, aflatoxins, microbial limits) tailored to herbal materials

Q8. Which of the following best describes the role of pharmacognostic tests in BHP monographs?

• They are optional and not recommended
• They provide morphological and anatomical criteria to ensure correct botanical identity and detect adulteration
• They are replaced by pharmacokinetic profiling
• They only apply to finished herbal formulations, not raw materials

Correct Answer: They provide morphological and anatomical criteria to ensure correct botanical identity and detect adulteration

Q9. In BHP, the term “marker compound” most accurately refers to which concept?

• The toxic impurity in an herb
• A constituent used for identification and/or quantification that serves as an indicator of quality
• The solvent used for extraction
• A synthetic standard unrelated to the plant

Correct Answer: A constituent used for identification and/or quantification that serves as an indicator of quality

Q10. For standardization of extracts, BHP frequently recommends which approach?

• Standardization solely based on dry residue weight
• Standardization to one or more marker compounds and an overall chromatographic fingerprint
• No standardization, relying on traditional use only
• Standardization exclusively by biological potency assays

Correct Answer: Standardization to one or more marker compounds and an overall chromatographic fingerprint

Q11. Which aspect of nomenclature is emphasized in BHP monographs for clarity and global use?

• Use of only common local names
• Use of accepted botanical Latin binomial with author citation and, where relevant, synonyms
• Use of chemical names for active constituents only
• Use of proprietary brand names

Correct Answer: Use of accepted botanical Latin binomial with author citation and, where relevant, synonyms

Q12. How does BHP approach descriptions of traditional use and indications compared with BP?

• BHP typically includes concise notes on traditional uses and customary preparations, whereas BP focuses on pharmacological indications for licensed drugs
• BHP provides no information on traditional use
• BP includes traditional herbal formulations extensively while BHP omits them
• Both BHP and BP ignore traditional information and list only clinical trial data

Correct Answer: BHP typically includes concise notes on traditional uses and customary preparations, whereas BP focuses on pharmacological indications for licensed drugs

Q13. When confronting adulteration, which test strategy is recommended in BHP monographs?

• Only color comparison with an image
• Combined use of macroscopic/microscopic examination, chromatographic fingerprinting and targeted assays for suspected adulterants
• Sole reliance on organoleptic (taste and smell) tests
• Disqualify all samples from non-certified sources without testing

Correct Answer: Combined use of macroscopic/microscopic examination, chromatographic fingerprinting and targeted assays for suspected adulterants

Q14. Which statement reflects BHP’s guidance on extraction solvents for monograph assays?

• Any solvent may be used without specification
• BHP specifies extraction solvents and procedures appropriate for the constituent class to ensure reproducible assays
• BHP mandates water extraction for all herbs
• BHP prohibits organic solvents for any assay

Correct Answer: BHP specifies extraction solvents and procedures appropriate for the constituent class to ensure reproducible assays

Q15. In comparative evaluation, how are reference standards handled in BHP?

• BHP does not use reference standards
• BHP provides or references authenticated reference materials and chromatographic reference standards for key markers
• BHP requires only in-house unlabeled references
• BHP accepts any commercial material without authentication

Correct Answer: BHP provides or references authenticated reference materials and chromatographic reference standards for key markers

Q16. Which of the following is primarily a quality attribute defined in many BHP monographs?

• Clinical trial endpoints
• Loss on drying, extractive values, ash values and purity tests specific to the herbal material
• Prescription-only status
• Cost-effectiveness metrics

Correct Answer: Loss on drying, extractive values, ash values and purity tests specific to the herbal material

Q17. Which regulatory implication is true when a herb appears both in BHP and BP?

• BHP entries automatically supersede BP legal status
• BP monographs may be used for quality requirements of herbal preparations that are recognized medicinal products, while BHP provides complementary botanical and traditional information
• Only BHP can be used for any regulatory submissions
• BP and BHP are identical in content and scope

Correct Answer: BP monographs may be used for quality requirements of herbal preparations that are recognized medicinal products, while BHP provides complementary botanical and traditional information

Q18. For chemical assays in BHP, which validation parameter is emphasized due to complex matrices?

• No validation is required for herbal assays
• Robustness and specificity to distinguish markers from matrix interferences
• Only linearity is important
• Validation only for synthetic APIs is necessary

Correct Answer: Robustness and specificity to distinguish markers from matrix interferences

Q19. In a comparative study, which aspect of stability testing is given special attention for herbal materials in BHP?

• Only thermal degradation of pure APIs
• Stability of marker compounds, influence of storage on organoleptic properties, and susceptibility to microbial growth
• Only photostability is considered
• Stability testing is identical for all herbal and synthetic products with no differences

Correct Answer: Stability of marker compounds, influence of storage on organoleptic properties, and susceptibility to microbial growth

Q20. Which practice is encouraged by BHP to ensure traceability and reproducible quality of herbal raw materials?

• Use of anonymous bulk purchases without documentation
• Documentation of botanical provenance, cultivation/collection data, and batch-linked analytical records
• Reliance solely on supplier verbal assurance
• Exclusion of botanical authentication if chromatographic results are acceptable

Correct Answer: Documentation of botanical provenance, cultivation/collection data, and batch-linked analytical records

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