Forest resources MCQs With Answer

Forest resources MCQs With Answer is a focused study aid tailored for B. Pharm students preparing for pharmacognosy and pharmacy exams. This SEO-friendly guide covers forest ecology, medicinal plants, phytochemistry, sustainable harvesting, conservation laws, and bioprospecting — all essential for understanding natural drug sources. Questions emphasize identification, active constituents (alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids), extraction and standardization techniques, non-timber forest products, and Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). Clear, exam-oriented MCQs with answers help reinforce concepts, clinical relevance, and environmental stewardship in pharmaceutical contexts. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which forest stratum is most important for sourcing medicinal herbs used in traditional remedies?

• Emergent layer
• Canopy layer
• Understorey
• Forest floor

Correct Answer: Understorey

Q2. In pharmacognosy, which forest-derived class of compounds is most commonly associated with strong basic nitrogen atoms?

• Terpenoids
• Alkaloids
• Flavonoids
• Tannins

Correct Answer: Alkaloids

Q3. Which international agreement regulates trade in endangered medicinal plant species?

• CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity)
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
• Montreal Protocol
• Kyoto Protocol

Correct Answer: CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

Q4. Which practice is a key principle of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) for medicinal plants?

• Random collection without records
• Standardized collection and documentation
• Using only chemical fertilizers
• Harvesting only in the monsoon season

Correct Answer: Standardized collection and documentation

Q5. Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) include all EXCEPT:

• Gums and resins
• Timber logs
• Medicinal herbs
• Edible fruits and nuts

Correct Answer: Timber logs

Q6. Which extraction technique is most suitable for heat-stable, non-polar plant constituents?

• Maceration with water
• Soxhlet extraction with non-polar solvent
• Steam distillation
• Cold percolation with methanol

Correct Answer: Soxhlet extraction with non-polar solvent

Q7. DNA barcoding in medicinal plant authentication targets which molecular marker commonly?

• rbcL and matK chloroplast genes
• 16S rRNA
• COI (cytochrome oxidase I) only
• Hemoglobin gene

Correct Answer: rbcL and matK chloroplast genes

Q8. Which soil-fungal association enhances nutrient uptake in many forest medicinal plants?

• Nitrifying bacteria
• Mycorrhiza
• Actinomycetes
• Viruses

Correct Answer: Mycorrhiza

Q9. Which secondary metabolite class is typically responsible for essential oil fragrance?

• Alkaloids
• Terpenoids
• Glycosides
• Tannins

Correct Answer: Terpenoids

Q10. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for profiling volatile constituents of a forest-sourced essential oil?

• HPLC
• GC-MS
• UV-Vis spectroscopy
• FTIR

Correct Answer: GC-MS

Q11. Which conservation strategy involves growing medicinal species alongside crops to reduce wild harvesting?

• Monoculture plantation
• Agroforestry
• Slash-and-burn
• Clear-cutting

Correct Answer: Agroforestry

Q12. In forest pharmacognosy, the term ‘bioprospecting’ primarily refers to:

• Planting exotic timber species
• Searching for bioactive compounds in biodiversity
• Logging for pharmaceutical wood
• Establishing national parks

Correct Answer: Searching for bioactive compounds in biodiversity

Q13. Which Indian legislation is most directly related to access and benefit-sharing of biological resources?

• Forest Rights Act
• Biological Diversity Act
• Wildlife Protection Act
• Soil Conservation Act

Correct Answer: Biological Diversity Act

Q14. Which phytochemical test is commonly used for detecting tannins in plant extracts?

• Dragendorff’s reagent
• Ferric chloride test
• Mayer’s reagent
• Salkowski test

Correct Answer: Ferric chloride test

Q15. Sustainable harvesting aims to maintain population levels by focusing on which approach?

• Harvesting all mature plants annually
• Allowing regeneration and controlled quotas
• Collecting only roots exclusively
• Removing canopy trees to encourage undergrowth

Correct Answer: Allowing regeneration and controlled quotas

Q16. Which forest type is richest in medicinal plant diversity and often targeted for drug discovery?

• Boreal coniferous forests
• Tropical rainforests
• Mediterranean scrub
• Semi-arid savanna

Correct Answer: Tropical rainforests

Q17. Adulteration of forest-derived raw materials is commonly detected by which method?

• Organoleptic evaluation, TLC/HPTLC and microscopy
• X-ray crystallography only
• Measuring pH alone
• Temperature of storage

Correct Answer: Organoleptic evaluation, TLC/HPTLC and microscopy

Q18. Which practice reduces post-harvest loss and preserves active constituents of medicinal leaves?

• Sun-drying on bare ground
• Rapid shade-drying or controlled oven drying
• Leaving harvested material in plastic bags
• Soaking leaves in water for days

Correct Answer: Rapid shade-drying or controlled oven drying

Q19. Which compound class commonly acts as plant defense molecules and has antioxidant activity useful pharmaceutically?

• Sterols
• Flavonoids
• Sugars
• Proteins

Correct Answer: Flavonoids

Q20. Which term describes traditional local knowledge about medicinal plants found in forests?

• Biotechnology
• Ethnobotany
• Taxonomy
• Phytogeography

Correct Answer: Ethnobotany

Q21. Which parameter is essential for standardization of a forest-derived herbal drug?

• Color of packaging
• Marker compound content and assay
• Price per kg
• Country of export only

Correct Answer: Marker compound content and assay

Q22. Which harvesting method is least damaging for perennial medicinal shrubs?

• Clear uprooting of whole plant
• Selective pruning and rotational harvest
• Complete defoliation annually
• Bark-stripping of all trees

Correct Answer: Selective pruning and rotational harvest

Q23. Which analytical fingerprinting method is commonly used in herbal drug standardization at the industry level?

• Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)/HPTLC
• Simple taste test
• Boiling point determination
• Paper chromatography only

Correct Answer: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)/HPTLC

Q24. Which forest process contributes to soil fertility by recycling nutrients and supporting medicinal plant growth?

• Erosion
• Litter decomposition
• Deforestation
• Acid rain

Correct Answer: Litter decomposition

Q25. Which category of forest product includes latex used for pharmaceutical gums?

• Timber
• Exudates
• Minerals
• Animal hides

Correct Answer: Exudates

Q26. Which forest-derived material is commonly standardized by essential oil yield and composition?

• Roots of sedatives
• Leaves of aromatic plants
• Wood pulp for paper
• Mosses for packing

Correct Answer: Leaves of aromatic plants

Q27. Which factor most influences secondary metabolite levels in forest medicinal plants?

• Season, environmental stress and developmental stage
• Color of the flower pot
• Day of the week
• Latitude only

Correct Answer: Season, environmental stress and developmental stage

Q28. Which of the following is a non-destructive method for estimating population size of a medicinal shrub in a forest?

• Uprooting sample plots
• Transect and quadrat sampling
• Clear-cutting sections
• Complete removal and counting

Correct Answer: Transect and quadrat sampling

Q29. Which compound class is typically detected by Salkowski test?

• Terpenoids (steroids)
• Tannins
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins

Correct Answer: Terpenoids (steroids)

Q30. Which concept ensures equitable sharing of benefits from commercial use of forest genetic resources?

• Biopiracy
• Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS)
• Open access extraction
• Monopoly patenting without consent

Correct Answer: Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS)

Q31. Which ecological term refers to the total variety of species in a forest ecosystem important for drug discovery?

• Abundance only
• Biodiversity
• Monoculture
• Carrying capacity only

Correct Answer: Biodiversity

Q32. Which post-collection documentation is critical for voucher specimen deposition?

• Collector name, location, date and habitat details
• Retail price
• Color of packaging
• Number of consumers

Correct Answer: Collector name, location, date and habitat details

Q33. Which forest management system promotes regeneration by selective cutting and mixed-age stands?

• Clear-cutting
• Coppicing and selection system
• Slash-and-burn
• Monoculture plantation

Correct Answer: Coppicing and selection system

Q34. Which timber-derived substance has pharmaceutical uses as an anti-inflammatory agent?

• Cellulose only
• Boswellic acids from resin
• Raw sawdust
• Green wood chips

Correct Answer: Boswellic acids from resin

Q35. Which microscopic feature helps authenticate powdered plant drugs from forest sources?

• Cellulose XRD pattern
• Characteristic trichomes, stomata and vessel elements
• Electrical conductivity
• pH of the powder suspension

Correct Answer: Characteristic trichomes, stomata and vessel elements

Q36. Which agro-technique increases yield of medicinal forest plants without degrading soil?

• Heavy chemical fertilizer use annually
• Integrated nutrient management and mulching
• Frequent tilling and exposure
• Burning crop residues

Correct Answer: Integrated nutrient management and mulching

Q37. Which concept is central to in-situ conservation of medicinal plants in forests?

• Herbarium storage
• Protecting species in their natural habitat
• Seed banking only
• Ex-situ cultivation in botanical gardens only

Correct Answer: Protecting species in their natural habitat

Q38. Which forest-sourced compound group often forms precipitates with lead acetate reagent?

• Proteins
• Flavonoids
• Carbohydrates
• Metals

Correct Answer: Flavonoids

Q39. Which technique is preferred for large-scale isolation of heat-sensitive phytochemicals from forest plants?

• Prolonged boiling with water
• Vacuum-assisted extraction at low temperatures
• Open flame distillation
• Drying in direct sunlight

Correct Answer: Vacuum-assisted extraction at low temperatures

Q40. Which organization publishes IUCN Red List relevant for forest medicinal species conservation?

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Correct Answer: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Q41. Which forest practice helps prevent loss of genetic diversity in medicinal species?

• Planting a single cultivar across all plantations
• Maintaining wild populations and multiple provenances
• Harvesting only the largest individuals
• Replacing native species with exotics

Correct Answer: Maintaining wild populations and multiple provenances

Q42. Which metabolite class often gives astringent taste and precipitates proteins?

• Tannins
• Sugars
• Alkaloids
• Terpenoids

Correct Answer: Tannins

Q43. Which method is used to quantify marker compounds in a forest plant extract in industry?

• Thin layer chromatography only without quantitation
• HPLC with validated method
• Sensory panel testing
• Visual color comparison

Correct Answer: HPLC with validated method

Q44. Which ecological concept explains how different forest layers support distinct medicinal species?

• Stratification and niche differentiation
• Monoclimax theory only
• Uniform habitat distribution
• Abiotic domination exclusively

Correct Answer: Stratification and niche differentiation

Q45. Which factor increases the risk of extinction for many forest medicinal plants?

• Sustainable community-based harvesting
• Habitat destruction and overharvesting
• In-situ conservation areas
• Ex-situ propagation programs

Correct Answer: Habitat destruction and overharvesting

Q46. Which documentation is essential for traceability of forest-sourced raw materials?

• Batch number, collection site coordinates and collector records
• Only invoice number
• Only the trader’s name
• Only estimated weight without origin

Correct Answer: Batch number, collection site coordinates and collector records

Q47. Which forest product is a major source of natural antioxidants used in herbal formulations?

• Industrial rubber
• Bark and leaves rich in polyphenols
• Raw timber lumber
• Coal from forest biomass

Correct Answer: Bark and leaves rich in polyphenols

Q48. Which field technique helps assess medicinal plant population regeneration after harvesting?

• Remote sensing without ground truthing
• Permanent plot monitoring and seedling counts
• Counting only mature trees
• Interviewing only merchants

Correct Answer: Permanent plot monitoring and seedling counts

Q49. Which practice is important for ethical bioprospecting in forest regions?

• Ignoring indigenous rights
• Prior informed consent and benefit-sharing
• Secret sampling without permits
• Exporting samples without documentation

Correct Answer: Prior informed consent and benefit-sharing

Q50. Which laboratory screening approach is commonly used to detect bioactivity from forest plant extracts early in drug discovery?

• In vitro bioassays (enzyme inhibition, cell assays)
• Direct human trials without preclinical tests
• Assessing only organoleptic properties
• Measuring ash values alone

Correct Answer: In vitro bioassays (enzyme inhibition, cell assays)

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