Resins – Asafoetida MCQs With Answer

Resins – Asafoetida MCQs With Answer

Asafoetida is an oleo-gum-resin obtained mainly from Ferula species, valued for its characteristic sulfurous odor and diverse phytoconstituents. For B.Pharm students, understanding its composition—resinous fraction, gum, and volatile oil—plus key constituents such as ferulic acid derivatives and sulfur-containing compounds is essential. Study topics include pharmacognosy, extraction (steam distillation, solvent extraction), analytical tests (TLC, ash values, volatile oil content), pharmacological actions (carminative, antispasmodic, expectorant), formulation aspects, storage and common adulterants. These focused, application-oriented MCQs will reinforce standardization, identification and therapeutic relevance. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which plant genus is the primary commercial source of medicinal asafoetida?

• Ferula
• Ruta
• Peganum
• Pimpinella

Correct Answer: Ferula

Q2. The term “oleo-gum-resin” describes asafoetida because it contains which three major fractions?

• Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins
• Resin, gum, volatile oil
• Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids
• Essential fatty acids, sterols, waxes

Correct Answer: Resin, gum, volatile oil

Q3. What phytochemical is commonly associated with the pungent odor of asafoetida?

• Monoterpenes
• Sulfur-containing compounds
• Glycosides

Correct Answer: Sulfur-containing compounds

Q4. Which constituent of asafoetida is often used as a chemical marker in standardization studies?

• Ferulic acid
• Caffeine
• Quercetin
• Ascorbic acid

Correct Answer: Ferulic acid

Q5. The volatile oil of asafoetida is typically isolated by which method?

• Cold maceration with methanol
• Steam distillation
• Soxhlet extraction with hexane
• Supercritical CO2 extraction only

Correct Answer: Steam distillation

Q6. Which pharmacopeial parameter is most relevant for assessing non-volatile residue in asafoetida?

• Moisture content
• Acid value
• Total ash
• Resin content

Correct Answer: Resin content

Q7. In thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of asafoetida, visualization of ferulic acid is best achieved under which condition?

• Visible light after iodine staining
• UV light at 254 or 365 nm
• Fluorescence after ninhydrin spray
• Heating with ferric chloride

Correct Answer: UV light at 254 or 365 nm

Q8. Which pharmacological property of asafoetida is directly linked to its use in treating flatulence?

• Antimicrobial activity
• Carminative action
• Hypoglycemic effect
• Diuretic effect

Correct Answer: Carminative action

Q9. A common traditional use of asafoetida in respiratory conditions is due to its:

• Expectorant and antispasmodic properties
• Antiviral activity
• Sedative effect
• Local anesthetic effect

Correct Answer: Expectorant and antispasmodic properties

Q10. Which of the following tests helps detect inorganic adulterants like gypsum in asafoetida?

• Specific gravity measurement
• Acid-insoluble ash determination
• Loss on drying
• pH measurement

Correct Answer: Acid-insoluble ash determination

Q11. The resin fraction of asafoetida is primarily composed of which type of compounds?

• Polysaccharides
• Sesquiterpene and ferulic acid esters (resin acids)
• Simple alcohols
• Inorganic salts

Correct Answer: Sesquiterpene and ferulic acid esters (resin acids)

Q12. Which storage condition best preserves the quality of asafoetida oleo-gum-resin?

• Open container at room temperature
• Sealed, cool and dark container
• Exposed to sunlight in glass jar
• Stored in humid environment

Correct Answer: Sealed, cool and dark container

Q13. Which analytical parameter indicates the volatile oil potency in asafoetida samples?

• Resin percentage
• Volatile oil content (v/w or v/v)
• Total ash value
• pH of aqueous extract

Correct Answer: Volatile oil content (v/w or v/v)

Q14. Adulteration of asafoetida with starch would most likely alter which quality test result?

• Increase in volatile oil content
• Increase in loss on drying
• Increase in carbohydrate (gum) proportion and decrease in resin percentage
• Decrease in ash value

Correct Answer: Increase in carbohydrate (gum) proportion and decrease in resin percentage

Q15. Which solvent system is commonly used for extraction of the resinous fraction in laboratory analysis?

• Cold water
• Petroleum ether followed by alcohol
• Ether only
• Chloroform followed by hexane

Correct Answer: Petroleum ether followed by alcohol

Q16. A pharmacognostic macroscopic character of asafoetida oleo-gum-resin is:

• White crystalline powder
• Brown to dark brown brittle mass with resinous fragments
• Green leafy fragments
• Transparent liquid oil only

Correct Answer: Brown to dark brown brittle mass with resinous fragments

Q17. Which of the following reactions is useful for detecting phenolic acids like ferulic acid in asafoetida?

• Miller’s test
• Ferric chloride color reaction
• Dragendorff’s test
• Salkowski test

Correct Answer: Ferric chloride color reaction

Q18. In formulation, which dosage form commonly utilizes asafoetida for its carminative effect?

• Topical cream
• Capsules and tablets for digestive aid
• Injectable solution
• Ophthalmic drops

Correct Answer: Capsules and tablets for digestive aid

Q19. Which safety consideration is most relevant when handling asafoetida in the lab?

• Avoiding inhalation due to pungent sulfurous odor and potential irritation
• Risk of UV-induced toxicity
• High flammability of raw gum
• Radioactive contamination

Correct Answer: Avoiding inhalation due to pungent sulfurous odor and potential irritation

Q20. The bitter and acrid taste of asafoetida is mainly attributed to:

• Gum polysaccharides
• Resinous constituents and volatile sulfur compounds
• Sugars and amino acids
• Mineral ash

Correct Answer: Resinous constituents and volatile sulfur compounds

Q21. Which instrumental method is most appropriate for profiling volatile sulfur compounds in asafoetida?

• HPLC-UV
• Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Polarimetry
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy

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

Q22. Which of the following is NOT a typical pharmacological action reported for asafoetida?

• Antispasmodic
• Carminative
• Expectorant
• Insulin secretagogue causing severe hypoglycemia

Correct Answer: Insulin secretagogue causing severe hypoglycemia

Q23. Standardization of asafoetida in pharmacopeias commonly includes which test?

• Determination of caffeine content
• Determination of volatile oil percentage and total ash
• Measurement of protein content
• Quantification of chlorophyll

Correct Answer: Determination of volatile oil percentage and total ash

Q24. Which extraction technique would be most suitable to isolate polar gum constituents from asafoetida?

• Extraction with water or aqueous ethanol
• Hexane extraction
• Supercritical CO2 at low polarity
• Dry distillation

Correct Answer: Extraction with water or aqueous ethanol

Q25. Which microscopic feature helps identify asafoetida in powdered drug analysis?

• Presence of stomata from leaves
• Resinous fragments and fragmented parenchyma cells with starch grains
• Trichomes with glandular heads
• Sclereids typical of seed coats

Correct Answer: Resinous fragments and fragmented parenchyma cells with starch grains

Q26. The characteristic irritant and flavoring properties of asafoetida are most relevant to which excipient compatibility concern?

• Interaction with dyes causing color fading
• Odor transfer to other ingredients in a mixture
• Loss of potency via hydrolysis by water
• Polymerization with PEG

Correct Answer: Odor transfer to other ingredients in a mixture

Q27. Which of the following is a common adulterant intentionally added to increase bulk in asafoetida?

• Honey
• Starch or gypsum
• Ethyl oleate
• Olive oil

Correct Answer: Starch or gypsum

Q28. A preformulation concern when using asafoetida volatile oil in a dosage form is:

• High melting point interfering with processing
• Volatility and odor loss during manufacturing and storage
• Excessive water solubility causing instability
• Radioactivity of volatile components

Correct Answer: Volatility and odor loss during manufacturing and storage

Q29. Which quality control parameter would detect excessive moisture in asafoetida samples?

• Loss on drying
• pH of alcoholic extract
• Viscosity of resin fraction
• Optical rotation

Correct Answer: Loss on drying

Q30. In modern research, the anti-inflammatory potential of asafoetida is often attributed to which class of constituents?

• Inorganic salts
• Phenolic acids and sulfur-containing compounds
• Simple sugars
• Nonpolar waxes

Correct Answer: Phenolic acids and sulfur-containing compounds

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