Introduction to adulteration and deterioration of herbal drugs MCQs With Answer

Introduction:

This quiz set on Introduction to adulteration and deterioration of herbal drugs is designed for M.Pharm students preparing for Herbal and Cosmetic Analysis (MPA 204T). It focuses on underlying causes of deterioration, common types of adulteration, and modern analytical approaches used to detect and prevent quality failure in herbal materials. Questions emphasize practical knowledge of physicochemical tests, chromatographic and spectrometric methods, microbiological and toxicological concerns (e.g., aflatoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues), and stability/storage principles. Answers include clear, concise explanations to reinforce learning and application in quality control, regulatory compliance, and research settings for herbal drug development and assurance.

Q1. What best defines adulteration of herbal drugs?

• Intentional or unintentional addition, substitution, or contamination that lowers quality or safety
• Natural age-related chemical changes in herbal constituents
• Only contamination by microorganisms during storage
• Loss of aroma or volatile compounds due to drying

Correct Answer: Intentional or unintentional addition, substitution, or contamination that lowers quality or safety

Q2. Which of the following is an example of intentional adulteration?

• Mixing cheaper plant material with a high-value herb to increase bulk
• Moisture increase due to poor drying
• Oxidative degradation of essential oils over time
• Enzymatic hydrolysis of glycosides during storage

Correct Answer: Mixing cheaper plant material with a high-value herb to increase bulk

Q3. Which analytical technique is most appropriate for detecting substitution at species level in powdered herbal material?

• DNA barcoding and molecular markers
• Loss on drying test
• Total ash determination
• Organoleptic evaluation

Correct Answer: DNA barcoding and molecular markers

Q4. Loss on drying (LOD) primarily measures which parameter in a herbal sample?

• Moisture and volatile matter content
• Total inorganic residue
• Specific active marker concentration
• Microbial load

Correct Answer: Moisture and volatile matter content

Q5. Acid-insoluble ash is used to indicate which type of contamination in herbal drugs?

• Silica or earthy contamination such as sand and soil
• Total salt content
• Heavy metal contamination like lead or arsenic
• Microbial contamination

Correct Answer: Silica or earthy contamination such as sand and soil

Q6. Aflatoxins in herbal raw materials are primarily produced by which organisms?

• Aspergillus species
• Bacillus species
• Penicillium marneffei exclusively
• Staphylococcus aureus

Correct Answer: Aspergillus species

Q7. Which method is considered a gold standard for quantifying trace heavy metals in herbal samples?

• Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• Thin layer chromatography (TLC)
• Loss on drying
• Organoleptic testing

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

Q8. Which parameter is most directly assessed by extractive values in pharmacopeial testing?

• Quantity of chemically extractable constituents in a specified solvent
• Total ash content
• Microbial contamination level
• Presence of adulterant species by DNA

Correct Answer: Quantity of chemically extractable constituents in a specified solvent

Q9. Which chromatographic technique is widely used for fingerprinting and comparative profiling of herbal preparations?

• High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC)
• Loss on drying
• Acid-insoluble ash test
• Microscopy alone

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

Q10. Which is the most appropriate method to detect synthetic drug adulterants in herbal formulations?

• HPLC or LC-MS/MS targeted analysis
• Total ash determination
• Organoleptic evaluation
• Moisture content by LOD only

Correct Answer: HPLC or LC-MS/MS targeted analysis

Q11. Oxidative rancidity in lipid-containing herbal materials can be minimized primarily by which approach?

• Excluding oxygen and using antioxidants in packaging
• Increasing humidity during storage
• Exposing to intermittent light to sterilize
• Adding extra moisture to maintain flexibility

Correct Answer: Excluding oxygen and using antioxidants in packaging

Q12. Which storage condition most promotes microbial growth and enzymatic deterioration of herbal drugs?

• High relative humidity and moderate temperature
• Low humidity and low temperature
• Vacuum sealed at low temperature
• Storage in inert gas at low temperature

Correct Answer: High relative humidity and moderate temperature

Q13. Pesticide residues in herbal materials are commonly screened using which analytical technique?

• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Total ash test
• Microscopy
• Loss on drying

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

Q14. Which pharmacopeial test would best indicate contamination by inorganic adulterants like dust or sand?

• Total ash and acid-insoluble ash
• Extractive value
• Thin layer chromatographic fingerprint
• DNA barcoding

Correct Answer: Total ash and acid-insoluble ash

Q15. Which of the following is a primary biochemical cause of deterioration in fresh herbal materials?

• Enzymatic hydrolysis and oxidation of active constituents
• Accumulation of inorganic ash
• Deliberate admixture with cheaper herbs
• DNA degradation detectable only by barcoding

Correct Answer: Enzymatic hydrolysis and oxidation of active constituents

Q16. Which microbiological parameter is critical for assessing safety of herbal extracts used orally?

• Total viable aerobic count and presence of specific pathogens
• Acid-insoluble ash value
• Volatile oil percentage only
• Organoleptic color assessment

Correct Answer: Total viable aerobic count and presence of specific pathogens

Q17. Which analytical approach provides both qualitative and quantitative information on volatile constituents lost during deterioration?

• Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Loss on drying
• Total ash determination
• DNA barcoding

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

Q18. According to WHO guidelines, which practice is essential to minimize adulteration and deterioration in the herbal supply chain?

• Good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and proper documentation
• Relying solely on organoleptic testing at market
• Storing all herbs at ambient outdoor conditions
• Using unverified suppliers to reduce cost

Correct Answer: Good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) and proper documentation

Q19. Which stability testing practice is important to establish shelf life of an herbal formulation?

• Accelerated stability studies at elevated temperature and humidity with marker analysis
• Only measuring initial extractive value once
• Recording organoleptic properties once at release
• Measuring acid-insoluble ash weekly regardless of storage

Correct Answer: Accelerated stability studies at elevated temperature and humidity with marker analysis

Q20. In detection of powdered herb adulteration, which combination of tests gives comprehensive evidence?

• Macroscopic/microscopic examination, HPTLC fingerprinting, and DNA barcoding where applicable
• Only loss on drying and total ash
• Only organoleptic evaluation by smell
• Only pesticide residue testing

Correct Answer: Macroscopic/microscopic examination, HPTLC fingerprinting, and DNA barcoding where applicable

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