History of pharmacognosy MCQs With Answer — A concise, student-focused introduction for B. Pharm learners. Pharmacognosy traces the discovery, documentation, and scientific analysis of medicinal plants, natural products, traditional medicine and herbal drugs from ancient texts (De Materia Medica, Charaka, Shen Nong) through medieval scholars to modern phytochemistry. Key themes include ethnobotany, isolation of active principles (morphine, quinine), development of pharmacopoeias, botanical taxonomy, and analytical techniques such as TLC and NMR. Understanding the historical evolution helps students link traditional knowledge with drug discovery, quality control and standardization. This resource emphasizes core keywords: history of pharmacognosy, medicinal plants, natural products, phytochemistry, herbal drugs, and B. Pharm relevance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What ancient text is considered a foundational work in the history of pharmacognosy?
- De Materia Medica by Dioscorides
- Charaka Samhita
- The Canon of Medicine
- Hippocratic Corpus
Correct Answer: De Materia Medica by Dioscorides
Q2. Which tradition contributed the Charaka Samhita, an important early source of herbal knowledge?
- Indian Ayurveda
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Greco-Roman medicine
- Ancient Egyptian medicine
Correct Answer: Indian Ayurveda
Q3. Who authored the Canon of Medicine, a major medieval medical work influencing pharmacognosy?
- Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
- Galen
- Paracelsus
- Dioscorides
Correct Answer: Avicenna (Ibn Sina)
Q4. The word “pharmacognosy” is derived from Greek roots meaning which of the following?
- drug + knowledge
- plant + remedy
- healing + science
- herb + study
Correct Answer: drug + knowledge
Q5. Which 19th-century development most directly shaped modern pharmacognosy?
- Isolation of active principles from natural sources
- Invention of polymerase chain reaction
- Discovery of penicillin
- Development of electron microscopy
Correct Answer: Isolation of active principles from natural sources
Q6. Who is credited with isolating morphine from opium in the early 19th century?
- Friedrich Sertürner
- Alexander Fleming
- Edward Jenner
- Robert Koch
Correct Answer: Friedrich Sertürner
Q7. Quinine, a landmark antimalarial alkaloid, was isolated from which botanical source?
- Cinchona bark
- Willow bark
- Foxglove
- Tea leaves
Correct Answer: Cinchona bark
Q8. Which chemists are known for isolating quinine in the 19th century?
- Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou
- Friedrich Sertürner and Adolf Gallid
- Felix Hoffmann and Bayer researchers
- Robert Robinson and Woodward
Correct Answer: Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou
Q9. Who established the binomial system of botanical nomenclature important for medicinal plant taxonomy?
- Carl Linnaeus
- Dioscorides
- Avicenna
- Paracelsus
Correct Answer: Carl Linnaeus
Q10. Which reference work publishes official monographs and standards for crude and herbal drugs?
- Pharmacopoeia
- World Health Organization generic list
- Food and Drug Administration guidance
- European Medicines Agency bulletin
Correct Answer: Pharmacopoeia
Q11. Which analytical technique became essential for fingerprinting herbal extracts in pharmacognosy?
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
- X-ray crystallography
- Nuclear medicine imaging
- ELISA immunoassay
Correct Answer: Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
Q12. Which of the following is NOT typically a primary pharmacognostic study technique?
- Organoleptic evaluation
- Microscopy
- RNA sequencing
- Phytochemical screening
Correct Answer: RNA sequencing
Q13. Historically, what does the term “Materia Medica” refer to?
- Collection of medicinal substances and their uses
- Collection of chemical reaction mechanisms
- Surgical instrument catalogues
- Diagnostic laboratory tests
Correct Answer: Collection of medicinal substances and their uses
Q14. Which plant-derived compound historically led to development of aspirin?
- Salicin
- Morphine
- Quinine
- Digitoxin
Correct Answer: Salicin
Q15. Who is credited with the synthesis of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) at Bayer?
- Felix Hoffmann
- Friedrich Sertürner
- Edward Stone
- Joseph Lister
Correct Answer: Felix Hoffmann
Q16. Alkaloids, terpenes and flavonoids belong to which class of natural products?
- Secondary metabolites
- Primary metabolites
- Vitamins
- Amino acids
Correct Answer: Secondary metabolites
Q17. What is a herbarium in the context of pharmacognosy?
- A dried plant specimen collection for identification and reference
- A living botanical garden for cultivation
- A specialized pharmacy for herbal medicines
- An analytical instrument for plant chemistry
Correct Answer: A dried plant specimen collection for identification and reference
Q18. Bioassay-guided fractionation is primarily used to do what in natural product research?
- Isolate active constituents based on biological activity
- Determine plant taxonomy
- Preserve samples in the herbarium
- Standardize manufacturing procedures
Correct Answer: Isolate active constituents based on biological activity
Q19. Which ancient physician’s humoral theory influenced drug selection and use in historical pharmacognosy?
- Galen
- Linnaeus
- Pasteur
- Jenner
Correct Answer: Galen
Q20. Early pharmacopoeias and official drug lists were primarily based on what sources?
- Materia Medica and traditional remedies
- Synthetic compound libraries
- Molecular biology findings
- Nanotechnology research
Correct Answer: Materia Medica and traditional remedies
Q21. Which spectroscopic technique accelerated structure elucidation of natural products in the 20th century?
- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
- Light microscopy
- Steam distillation
- Paper chromatography
Correct Answer: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy
Q22. Digitoxin, a cardiotonic glycoside, is isolated from which plant source?
- Digitalis species (foxglove)
- Cinchona tree
- Coffee plant
- Poppy
Correct Answer: Digitalis species (foxglove)
Q23. Which classic Chinese text is foundational for traditional Chinese materia medica?
- Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
- De Materia Medica
- Charaka Samhita
- Canon of Medicine
Correct Answer: Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
Q24. Ethnopharmacology primarily studies which aspect of medicinal plants?
- Traditional use of plants by cultures
- Synthetic modifications of natural products
- Industrial pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Only clinical trial methodologies
Correct Answer: Traditional use of plants by cultures
Q25. Which century saw the major transition from crude herbal use to isolation of pure natural compounds?
- 19th century
- 14th century
- 16th century
- 21st century
Correct Answer: 19th century
Q26. A typical B.Pharm pharmacognosy curriculum includes which components?
- Botany, phytochemistry, analytical techniques, and pharmacology
- Only clinical pharmacy training
- Only hospital-based internships
- Only pharmaceutical technology
Correct Answer: Botany, phytochemistry, analytical techniques, and pharmacology
Q27. Which Renaissance figure promoted chemical remedies and influenced early drug development?
- Paracelsus
- Hippocrates
- Dioscorides
- Avicenna
Correct Answer: Paracelsus
Q28. What is the primary focus of modern pharmacognosy?
- Discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products
- Hospital pharmacy management
- Dispensing medicines
- Synthetic polymer engineering
Correct Answer: Discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products
Q29. What role did colonial exploration play in the history of pharmacognosy?
- Introduced new medicinal plants and knowledge to Europe
- Banned the study of herbal remedies
- Eliminated traditional medicine globally
- Replaced all herbal drugs with synthetic ones overnight
Correct Answer: Introduced new medicinal plants and knowledge to Europe
Q30. Which documentation method ensures traceability and authentication of crude drug samples?
- Voucher specimen deposition in a herbarium
- Random sampling without records
- Discarding original material after extraction
- Anonymous labeling of samples
Correct Answer: Voucher specimen deposition in a herbarium
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