Pharmacognosy MCQs With Answer is a focused learning resource designed for B. Pharm students to master herbal drugs, crude drugs, phytochemistry, and pharmacognostic evaluation. This collection emphasizes identification techniques, microscopy, extraction methods, standardization, quality control, and WHO guidelines relevant to herbal medicines. Each question targets core keywords such as plant drugs, secondary metabolites (alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids), authentication tests, chromatographic methods, and stability parameters to build practical exam-ready knowledge. The MCQs promote critical thinking about organoleptic, microscopic and physicochemical assessments, common adulteration issues, and analytical approaches like TLC/HPTLC. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the primary focus of pharmacognosy?
- Study of synthetic drug design and chemical synthesis
- Study of drugs from natural sources and their properties
- Study of clinical trials and patient outcomes
- Study of pharmaceutical marketing strategies
Correct Answer: Study of drugs from natural sources and their properties
Q2. Which of the following is a primary pharmacognostic evaluation method for a crude drug?
- Clinical pharmacokinetic study
- Macroscopic and microscopic examination
- Double blind randomized trial
- Pharmacoeconomic analysis
Correct Answer: Macroscopic and microscopic examination
Q3. Which test is commonly used to detect alkaloids in a plant extract?
- Kedde’s test
- Dragendorff’s test
- Molisch’s test
- Liebermann–Burchard test
Correct Answer: Dragendorff’s test
Q4. What does ash value indicate in pharmacognostic analysis?
- Total moisture content of the drug
- Amount of inorganic residue after incineration indicating purity
- Concentration of active alkaloids
- Volatile oil content
Correct Answer: Amount of inorganic residue after incineration indicating purity
Q5. Which phytochemical class is responsible for bitter taste and cardiotonic activity in Digitalis?
- Alkaloids
- Cardiac glycosides
- Tannins
- Flavonoids
Correct Answer: Cardiac glycosides
Q6. Which solvent is most suitable for extracting polar glycosides from plant material?
- n-Hexane
- Chloroform
- Methanol or water
- Carbon tetrachloride
Correct Answer: Methanol or water
Q7. TLC is widely used in pharmacognosy mainly for:
- Measuring particle size distribution
- Preliminary separation and identification of constituents
- Determining drug toxicity in vivo
- Assessing tablet hardness
Correct Answer: Preliminary separation and identification of constituents
Q8. Which organoleptic parameter is NOT typically assessed during crude drug evaluation?
- Colour
- Odour
- Pulse rate
- Taste
Correct Answer: Pulse rate
Q9. The Keller–Kiliani test is specific for detection of which class of compounds?
- Saponins
- Cardiac glycosides (deoxy sugars)
- Alkaloids
- Essential oils
Correct Answer: Cardiac glycosides (deoxy sugars)
Q10. Which microscopic feature is diagnostic for identifying the leaf of a plant drug?
- Presence of stomata, trichomes and vascular tissue pattern
- Melting point range
- Solubility in organic solvents
- Optical rotation
Correct Answer: Presence of stomata, trichomes and vascular tissue pattern
Q11. What is the main purpose of standardization of herbal drugs?
- To determine marketing price
- To ensure consistent quality, safety and efficacy
- To change botanical identity
- To synthesize active constituents
Correct Answer: To ensure consistent quality, safety and efficacy
Q12. Which chromatographic technique provides higher resolution and quantitation in herbal analysis compared to TLC?
- Paper chromatography
- HPLC or HPTLC
- Simple distillation
- Gravimetric analysis
Correct Answer: HPLC or HPTLC
Q13. Which secondary metabolite class commonly yields a red or blue color with ferric chloride test?
- Terpenoids
- Tannins and phenolic compounds
- Alkaloids
- Saponins
Correct Answer: Tannins and phenolic compounds
Q14. Saponins are best detected by which simple pharmacognostic test?
- Frothing (foam) test
- Dragendorff’s test
- Salkowski test
- Kedde’s test
Correct Answer: Frothing (foam) test
Q15. Which parameter assesses water content in a crude drug?
- Moisture content (loss on drying)
- Ash value
- Extractive value
- pH of aqueous extract
Correct Answer: Moisture content (loss on drying)
Q16. Chemotaxonomy in pharmacognosy is used to:
- Classify plants based on morphological traits only
- Use chemical constituents to assist classification and identification
- Determine clinical dosage regimens
- Estimate market demand for herbs
Correct Answer: Use chemical constituents to assist classification and identification
Q17. Which of the following is a common adulterant in powdered herbal drugs?
- Authentic plant material
- Inert fillers like starch or cheaper plant powders
- Purified active pharmaceutical ingredient
- Sterile water
Correct Answer: Inert fillers like starch or cheaper plant powders
Q18. Which test is indicative for cardiac glycosides using color reaction with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid?
- Liebermann–Burchard
- Keller–Kiliani
- Salkowski
- Bornträger’s test
Correct Answer: Keller–Kiliani
Q19. Which class of compounds typically gives a yellow fluorescence under UV light in TLC when derivatized?
- Polymeric resins
- Flavonoids
- Inorganic salts
- Proteins
Correct Answer: Flavonoids
Q20. What does the term “crude drug” refer to in pharmacognosy?
- Pure isolated chemical entities
- Unprocessed plant, animal or mineral materials used as drugs
- Any synthetic pharmaceutical formulation
- Vaccines and biologicals
Correct Answer: Unprocessed plant, animal or mineral materials used as drugs
Q21. Which phytochemical test detects steroids and triterpenoids producing a green or blue color?
- Molisch’s test
- Liebermann–Burchard test
- Frothing test
- Ferric chloride test
Correct Answer: Liebermann–Burchard test
Q22. HPTLC advantages over conventional TLC include all EXCEPT:
- Better resolution and repeatability
- Quantitative densitometry capability
- Lower sample throughput
- Higher sensitivity
Correct Answer: Lower sample throughput
Q23. Which extractive value gives an estimate of polar constituents in a crude drug?
- Ether extractive value
- Water or methanol extractive value
- Alcohol insoluble residue
- Ash value
Correct Answer: Water or methanol extractive value
Q24. Which plant tissue culture technique is valuable for production of secondary metabolites?
- Solid state fermentation only
- Callus culture and cell suspension culture
- Tablet formulation
- Gas chromatography
Correct Answer: Callus culture and cell suspension culture
Q25. Which WHO guideline aspect is critical for herbal medicine quality?
- Standardized dosing schedules for animals only
- Good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and quality control
- Mandating synthetic modification of all herbal actives
- Exclusive use of inorganic excipients
Correct Answer: Good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and quality control
Q26. Molisch’s test is a general test for the presence of:
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates (sugars)
- Alkaloids
- Terpenoids
Correct Answer: Carbohydrates (sugars)
Q27. Which parameter helps detect inorganic adulteration such as sand or metals in herbal powder?
- Total ash and acid-insoluble ash values
- Moisture content only
- Optical rotation
- Volatile oil content
Correct Answer: Total ash and acid-insoluble ash values
Q28. Salkowski test is used to detect which class of compounds?
- Carbohydrates
- Terpenoids and steroids (by producing red or violet ring)
- Alkaloids
- Tannins
Correct Answer: Terpenoids and steroids (by producing red or violet ring)
Q29. Which term describes the quantitative determination of active marker compounds in a herbal preparation?
- Organoleptic evaluation
- Assay or standardization
- Macroscopy
- Foreign matter analysis
Correct Answer: Assay or standardization
Q30. Which microscopic feature in powder microscopy can help identify seeds rich in oils?
- Presence of stomatal apparatus
- Abundance of oil globules and fragment of aleurone cells
- Crystal files of calcium oxalate only
- High lignified fibers exclusively
Correct Answer: Abundance of oil globules and fragment of aleurone cells
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