Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia: identity, purity and quality of formulations MCQs With Answer

Introduction: This quiz collection focuses on the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia principles related to identity, purity and quality of Ayurvedic formulations, tailored for M.Pharm (Indian Systems of Medicine) students. It covers modern analytical approaches and classical Ayurvedic tests used to establish authenticity, safety and efficacy of raw drugs and finished products. Questions include pharmacopoeial standards, physicochemical parameters, instrumental techniques (HPLC, HPTLC, GC-MS, ICP-MS), microbial and toxic contaminant limits, and classical tests for bhasmas and formulations. The set aims to reinforce critical thinking about standardization, regulatory expectations and practical quality control of Ayurvedic medicines.

Q1. Which official document is the primary legal reference for standards and monographs of Ayurvedic drugs and formulations in India?

• Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India
• Ayurvedic Formulary of India
• World Health Organization Herbal Monographs
• Pharmacopoeia of India (Allopathic)

Correct Answer: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India

Q2. Which combination of tests is most appropriate for establishing the botanical identity of a crude Ayurvedic herbal drug?

• Macroscopic and microscopic examination with TLC/HPTLC fingerprinting
• Only organoleptic evaluation (taste and smell)
• Loss on drying and total ash determination
• Heavy metals and pesticide residue analysis

Correct Answer: Macroscopic and microscopic examination with TLC/HPTLC fingerprinting

Q3. Which pharmacopeial ash value specifically indicates the presence of silica (sand) and helps detect earthy contamination?

• Total ash
• Water-soluble ash
• Acid-insoluble ash
• Loss on ignition

Correct Answer: Acid-insoluble ash

Q4. Which parameter is commonly used to determine moisture content and susceptibility to microbial spoilage in powdered Ayurvedic formulations?

• Loss on drying
• Saponification value
• Refractive index
• Varitaratva

Correct Answer: Loss on drying

Q5. Which analytical technique is most widely used for sensitive screening and quantification of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues in herbal medicines?

• Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS)
• UV-visible spectrophotometry

Correct Answer: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Q6. For trace and ultra-trace multi-element analysis of heavy metals in Ayurvedic formulations, which technique provides highest sensitivity and multi-element capability?

• Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS)
• Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• Colorimetric lead test kits
• Gas chromatography

Correct Answer: Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Q7. Which classical bhasma quality tests evaluate fineness by checking if the powder enters finger-ridges and floatability on water?

• Rekhapurnatva and Varitaratva
• Nischandratva and Apunarbhava
• Loss on drying and total ash
• Acid-insoluble ash and saponification value

Correct Answer: Rekhapurnatva and Varitaratva

Q8. Microbial limit testing for Ayurvedic finished products typically requires which of the following?

• Total aerobic microbial count, total yeast and mould count, and absence of specified pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli)
• Only total bacterial count without pathogen testing
• Only presence/absence of Staphylococcus aureus
• No microbial testing is required for classical formulations

Correct Answer: Total aerobic microbial count, total yeast and mould count, and absence of specified pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli)

Q9. Which accelerated stability condition is commonly used for short-term shelf-life prediction of herbal formulations according to ICH-guidelines?

• 40°C and 75% relative humidity
• 25°C and 60% relative humidity
• 60°C dry heat for 48 hours
• −20°C deep freeze for one month

Correct Answer: 40°C and 75% relative humidity

Q10. What is a major advantage of HPTLC fingerprinting in standardization of multi-constituent Ayurvedic medicines?

• Simultaneous visual fingerprinting of multiple constituents with densitometric quantification
• It replaces all physicochemical tests like ash and extractive value
• It directly measures heavy metals without digestion
• It is used only for volatile oils

Correct Answer: Simultaneous visual fingerprinting of multiple constituents with densitometric quantification

Q11. Which physicochemical parameter is commonly used to assess early stages of rancidity and hydrolytic degradation in medicated oils (taila)?

• Saponification value
• Acid value
• Refractive index
• Water-soluble ash

Correct Answer: Acid value

Q12. Which pharmacopeial parameter indicates the quantity of active or soluble constituents extractable from a herbal drug using a given solvent?

• Extractive value
• Acid-insoluble ash
• Loss on drying
• pH

Correct Answer: Extractive value

Q13. To detect adulteration of Ayurvedic formulations with undeclared synthetic pharmaceuticals (e.g., NSAIDs, steroids), which analytical approach is most appropriate?

• Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
• Microscopy
• Total ash determination
• Refractive index

Correct Answer: Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Q14. Which classical bhasma test is intended to confirm the absence of metallic luster, suggesting conversion to an oxide or oxide-like form?

• Rekhapurnatva
• Varitaratva
• Nischandratva
• Apunarbhava

Correct Answer: Nischandratva

Q15. Which analytical technique is most commonly employed for quantitative assay of a non-volatile marker compound in a plant extract used in Ayurvedic formulations?

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Gas chromatography (GC) without derivatization
• Refractive index measurement
• Saponification value determination

Correct Answer: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

Q16. What is the primary purpose of bhavana (levigation/triturating with liquid media) during preparation of many classical Ayurvedic formulations?

• Increase potency, enhance bioavailability, and ensure uniform impregnation of liquid media into powders
• Only to change the color of the material
• To sterilize the material by heat
• To remove all ash content

Correct Answer: Increase potency, enhance bioavailability, and ensure uniform impregnation of liquid media into powders

Q17. Which modern technique is preferred for accurate particle size distribution analysis of powdered Ayurvedic formulations (churnas) during quality control?

• Sieve analysis only
• Laser diffraction particle size analysis
• Visual inspection
• Loss on drying

Correct Answer: Laser diffraction particle size analysis

Q18. Which classical bhasma quality parameter is evaluated by placing a small quantity of bhasma on water and observing whether it floats?

• Rekhapurnatva
• Varitaratva
• Nischandratva
• Apunarbhava

Correct Answer: Varitaratva

Q19. Which test and technique are appropriate to confirm absence or permissible levels of residual organic solvents in extracts used for Ayurvedic proprietary medicines?

• Residual solvent analysis by headspace gas chromatography (GC)
• Total ash determination by incineration
• HPTLC fingerprinting only
• Microscopic powder analysis

Correct Answer: Residual solvent analysis by headspace gas chromatography (GC)

Q20. Compared with conventional TLC, what are key advantages of HPTLC when applied to standardization of Ayurvedic herbal formulations?

• Higher resolution, improved reproducibility and densitometric quantification
• It eliminates the need for sample preparation
• It measures heavy metals directly
• It provides microbial counts

Correct Answer: Higher resolution, improved reproducibility and densitometric quantification

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