Resins – Curcumin MCQs With Answer

Resins – Curcumin MCQs With Answer

Resins and curcumin are essential topics in pharmacognosy and formulation science for B.Pharm students. This concise introduction covers natural and synthetic resins, classification (gum-resins, oleo-resins, balsams), physicochemical properties, extraction and analytical methods, and pharmaceutical applications as excipients and drug delivery matrices. For curcumin, key concepts include its chemical structure (diarylheptanoid), keto–enol tautomerism, poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, therapeutic activities (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer), and formulation strategies (nanoformulations, piperine coadministration). Important analytical techniques such as UV, HPLC and stability considerations are emphasized. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which of the following best describes natural resins?

• Volatile aromatic oils obtained by steam distillation
• Non-volatile, complex mixtures of terpenoids and other compounds, often insoluble in water
• Pure crystalline monoterpenes used as solvents
• Simple carbohydrates forming gummy exudates

Correct Answer: Non-volatile, complex mixtures of terpenoids and other compounds, often insoluble in water

Q2. Colophony (rosin) is primarily obtained from which plant source?

• Pinus species (pine)
• Boswellia sacra (frankincense)
• Citrus sinensis (orange)
• Curcuma longa (turmeric)

Correct Answer: Pinus species (pine)

Q3. Which class of resins contains both volatile oil and non-volatile resin components?

• Gum
• Oleoresin
• Balsam
• Amber

Correct Answer: Oleoresin

Q4. Which analytical technique is commonly used to quantify curcumin in formulations?

• Polarimetry
• UV-visible spectrophotometry and HPLC
• Flame photometry
• Atomic absorption spectroscopy

Correct Answer: UV-visible spectrophotometry and HPLC

Q5. Curcumin is chemically classified as which of the following?

• Alkaloid
• Diarylheptanoid polyphenol
• Flavonoid glycoside
• Saponin

Correct Answer: Diarylheptanoid polyphenol

Q6. Which property of curcumin primarily causes its low oral bioavailability?

• High water solubility
• Poor aqueous solubility and rapid metabolism (glucuronidation)
• High molecular weight >2000 Da
• High volatility leading to loss in GI tract

Correct Answer: Poor aqueous solubility and rapid metabolism (glucuronidation)

Q7. Which additive is most commonly used to enhance curcumin bioavailability in humans?

• Quinine
• Piperine
• Sucrose
• Citric acid

Correct Answer: Piperine

Q8. Amber is best described as which type of resin?

• Fresh oleoresin from trees
• Fossilized plant resin
• Synthetic phenolic resin
• Commercial rosin derivative

Correct Answer: Fossilized plant resin

Q9. Which solvent would best dissolve most natural resins for extraction?

• Water
• Non-polar organic solvents like ethanol, chloroform or acetone
• Dilute saline
• Supercritical CO2 only

Correct Answer: Non-polar organic solvents like ethanol, chloroform or acetone

Q10. The predominant tautomeric form of curcumin in polar solvents is usually:

• Keto form exclusively
• Enol form due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding
• Radical form
• Mesoionic form

Correct Answer: Enol form due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding

Q11. Which of the following is a pharmaceutical application of natural resins?

• As sweetening agents in syrups
• As film-forming agents, sustained-release matrices, and adhesives
• As primary active antimicrobial agents in injectables
• As volatile anesthetics

Correct Answer: As film-forming agents, sustained-release matrices, and adhesives

Q12. Curcumin shows a characteristic UV-visible absorption maximum approximately at:

• 280 nm
• 420 nm
• 600 nm
• 100 nm

Correct Answer: 420 nm

Q13. Which resin type is commonly used in varnishes and adhesives in the pharmaceutical industry?

• Polyethylene
• Rosin (colophony)
• Gelatin
• Starch

Correct Answer: Rosin (colophony)

Q14. The anti-inflammatory action of curcumin is partly due to inhibition of:

• Cyclooxygenase (COX) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways
• Sodium-potassium ATPase only
• DNA polymerase exclusively
• Hemoglobin synthesis

Correct Answer: Cyclooxygenase (COX) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways

Q15. Which test can distinguish resin acids (e.g., abietic acid) in rosin?

• Tetrazolium reduction test
• Saponification followed by acidification to detect resin acids
• Benedict’s test for reducing sugars
• Biuret test for proteins

Correct Answer: Saponification followed by acidification to detect resin acids

Q16. Which formulation approach is NOT commonly used to improve curcumin solubility and delivery?

• Nanoemulsions and liposomes
• Solid dispersions and cyclodextrin inclusion complexes
• Co-crystals with hydrophilic drugs to increase volatility
• Polymeric nanoparticles

Correct Answer: Co-crystals with hydrophilic drugs to increase volatility

Q17. Gum-resins are characterized by the presence of:

• Only volatile oils
• Both water-soluble gums and insoluble resins
• Only crystalline sugar
• Pure inorganic salts

Correct Answer: Both water-soluble gums and insoluble resins

Q18. A common stability issue of curcumin under physiological conditions is:

• Rapid photodecomposition and alkaline hydrolysis
• Complete insolubility in organic solvents
• Immediate conversion to crystalline sugar
• Spontaneous polymerization to collagen

Correct Answer: Rapid photodecomposition and alkaline hydrolysis

Q19. Which of the following is TRUE about synthetic resins used in pharmaceuticals?

• They are never used as excipients due to toxicity
• Some synthetic resins (e.g., Eudragit) are used for enteric coatings and controlled-release
• They are always volatile and used as flavoring agents
• All synthetic resins are identical to natural amber

Correct Answer: Some synthetic resins (e.g., Eudragit) are used for enteric coatings and controlled-release

Q20. Which metabolite-related process primarily reduces curcumin systemic levels?

• Oxidative phosphorylation
• Extensive glucuronidation and sulfation in the liver and intestine
• Formation of glycosidic bonds
• Dehydration to volatile hydrocarbons

Correct Answer: Extensive glucuronidation and sulfation in the liver and intestine

Q21. Which natural resin is associated with frankincense?

• Myrrh (Commiphora) resin
• Boswellia oleo-resin
• Pinus rosin
• Amber

Correct Answer: Boswellia oleo-resin

Q22. In HPLC analysis of curcumin, which detector is most appropriate?

• Refractive index detector only
• UV-visible detector set around 420 nm
• Flame ionization detector
• Conductivity detector

Correct Answer: UV-visible detector set around 420 nm

Q23. Which statement about gum-resins differs from oleo-resins?

• Gum-resins contain both soluble gums and resins; oleo-resins contain volatile oil and resin
• Gum-resins are purely volatile oils
• Oleo-resins always dissolve in water
• Gum-resins are synthetic polymers only

Correct Answer: Gum-resins contain both soluble gums and resins; oleo-resins contain volatile oil and resin

Q24. Which pharmacological effect is commonly attributed to curcumin in preclinical studies?

• Pro-oxidant action leading to tissue damage at all doses
• Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer activities
• Exclusive antiviral activity with no other effects
• Irreversible inhibition of insulin

Correct Answer: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and potential anticancer activities

Q25. Which packaging/storage condition improves stability of resin-containing pharmaceuticals?

• Exposure to direct sunlight and high humidity
• Cool, dry, and protected from light
• High temperature above 60°C
• Open containers in oxidizing environment

Correct Answer: Cool, dry, and protected from light

Q26. Which chromatographic technique is useful for separating resin constituents and curcuminoids?

• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC
• Paper chromatography for volatile gases only
• Gel electrophoresis for small organics
• Size-exclusion chromatography for ions

Correct Answer: Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC

Q27. Which structural feature contributes to curcumin’s antioxidant activity?

• Absence of conjugated double bonds
• Phenolic hydroxyl groups and conjugated enone system
• Covalent attachment to polysaccharides
• Presence of a charged quaternary nitrogen

Correct Answer: Phenolic hydroxyl groups and conjugated enone system

Q28. Which resin-derived compound is commonly responsible for tackiness and adhesive properties in rosin?

• Abietic acid (resin acid)
• Glucose
• Cellulose
• Sorbitol

Correct Answer: Abietic acid (resin acid)

Q29. Which formulation excipient can form inclusion complexes with curcumin to enhance aqueous solubility?

• Cyclodextrins
• Sodium chloride
• Calcium carbonate
• Iron oxide

Correct Answer: Cyclodextrins

Q30. During phytochemical screening, which reagent is useful to detect general presence of resins?

• Ferric chloride for phenols only
• Acetone or alcohol extraction followed by precipitation with water or cold ethanol
• Benedict’s reagent for reducing sugars
• Ninhydrin for amino acids

Correct Answer: Acetone or alcohol extraction followed by precipitation with water or cold ethanol

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