Resins – Ginger MCQs With Answer

Resins – Ginger MCQs With Answer

Resins are complex, non-volatile, resinous substances produced by plants; ginger (Zingiber officinale) yields an important oleoresin rich in bioactive compounds. This concise introduction covers classification (resins, gum-resins, balsams, oleoresins), chemical nature (terpenoids, phenolics), pharmacognostic tests, extraction methods (solvent extraction, supercritical CO2), and pharmaceutical uses (excipients, adhesives, expectorants). Key keywords: resins, oleoresin, gingerol, shogaol, zingerone, extraction, solubility, pharmacognosy, identification tests, stability. Concepts emphasized are practical for B.Pharm students preparing for exams and lab work. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which of the following best describes an oleoresin?

• A purely volatile essential oil extracted from plant material
• A combination of resinous non-volatile components and volatile essential oils
• A water-soluble polysaccharide secreted by plants
• A synthetic polymer used as a pharmaceutical coating

Correct Answer: A combination of resinous non-volatile components and volatile essential oils

Q2. Ginger oleoresin primarily contains which major pungent phenolic compounds?

• Curcumin and demethoxycurcumin
• Gingerol and shogaol
• Menthol and menthone
• Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin

Correct Answer: Gingerol and shogaol

Q3. Which solvent is commonly used for preparing ginger oleoresin in industry?

• Water
• Non-polar solvents like hexane or petroleum ether
• Hydrochloric acid
• Lactated Ringer’s solution

Correct Answer: Non-polar solvents like hexane or petroleum ether

Q4. Which test helps distinguish resins from gums in pharmacognosy?

• Resins are water-soluble whereas gums are ether-soluble
• Gums yield mucilage with water while resins do not swell in water
• Both resins and gums dissolve readily in cold water
• Gums are volatile while resins are non-volatile

Correct Answer: Gums yield mucilage with water while resins do not swell in water

Q5. Which class of natural compounds predominates in balsams and many resins?

• Alkaloids
• Terpenoids (resin acids and esters)
• Polysaccharides
• Peptides and proteins

Correct Answer: Terpenoids (resin acids and esters)

Q6. What is a common pharmaceutical application of plant resins and oleoresins?

• Use as systemic antibiotics
• Use as film-formers, adhesives, and flavoring agents
• Replacement for insulin therapy
• Use as sterile isotonic injectables

Correct Answer: Use as film-formers, adhesives, and flavoring agents

Q7. Which analytical technique is most suitable for identifying individual phenolic constituents like gingerol in oleoresins?

• Gravimetric analysis
• Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Simple flame test
• Olfactory evaluation only

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

Q8. Gingerol converts to which compound upon heating or drying, increasing pungency?

• Curcumin
• Shogaol
• Menthol
• Zingerone

Correct Answer: Shogaol

Q9. Which property distinguishes resins from essential oils?

• Resins are volatile; essential oils are non-volatile
• Resins are non-volatile and often solid or viscous; essential oils are volatile liquids
• Both are identical in chemical composition
• Essential oils are polymeric solids while resins are low-boiling liquids

Correct Answer: Resins are non-volatile and often solid or viscous; essential oils are volatile liquids

Q10. Which of the following is a typical pharmacognostic test for detecting resin in a sample?

• Formation of a mucilage on addition of water
• Dissolution in alcohol and precipitation with water
• Reaction with Dragendorff’s reagent
• Flocculation with barium chloride

Correct Answer: Dissolution in alcohol and precipitation with water

Q11. Ginger oleoresin differs from essential oil in that it:

• Contains only volatile constituents
• Contains both volatile oils and non-volatile resinous compounds
• Is completely water-soluble
• Has no pharmacological activity

Correct Answer: Contains both volatile oils and non-volatile resinous compounds

Q12. Which extraction method gives high-quality oleoresin with selective recovery of pungent constituents?

• Cold water maceration
• Supercritical CO2 extraction
• Boiling in dilute acid
• Direct combustion

Correct Answer: Supercritical CO2 extraction

Q13. Which component in ginger is mainly responsible for its antiemetic and gastrointestinal prokinetic effects?

• Zingerone and gingerol derivatives
• Starch
• Lignin
• Sucrose

Correct Answer: Zingerone and gingerol derivatives

Q14. Gum-resins differ from pure resins because they contain:

• Only volatile oils
• A mixture of resinous and water-soluble gum constituents
• Only inorganic salts
• Pure proteins

Correct Answer: A mixture of resinous and water-soluble gum constituents

Q15. Which storage condition helps maintain stability of ginger oleoresin?

• Exposure to direct sunlight and high temperature
• Storage in airtight, dark containers at low temperature
• Storage in open containers with frequent air exchange
• Mixing with water and storing at room temperature

Correct Answer: Storage in airtight, dark containers at low temperature

Q16. Which adulterant is commonly checked for in commercial resins and oleoresins?

• Excess water and cheap vegetable oils
• High-purity ethanol
• Pure synthetic gingerol only
• Sterile saline

Correct Answer: Excess water and cheap vegetable oils

Q17. In TLC analysis of ginger oleoresin, mobile phases are chosen to separate which types of compounds?

• Only inorganic minerals
• Volatile terpenes, non-volatile phenolics like gingerol and shogaol
• Proteins and polysaccharides exclusively
• Radioisotopes

Correct Answer: Volatile terpenes, non-volatile phenolics like gingerol and shogaol

Q18. Which statement about synthetic resins used in pharmacy is correct?

• Synthetic resins are identical to plant resins chemically
• Synthetic resins are man-made polymers often used as coatings, binders, and controlled-release matrices
• Synthetic resins are edible and used as sweeteners
• Synthetic resins are always water-soluble excipients

Correct Answer: Synthetic resins are man-made polymers often used as coatings, binders, and controlled-release matrices

Q19. Which bioassay or effect is commonly associated with ginger oleoresin in pharmacology?

• Antiemetic and anti-inflammatory activity
• Hypoglycemic insulin replacement
• Direct DNA intercalation cytotoxicity exclusively
• Radioactive imaging tracer

Correct Answer: Antiemetic and anti-inflammatory activity

Q20. Which chemical change reduces pungency but increases sweetness in heated ginger, forming which compound?

• Gingerol converts to zingerone
• Shogaol converts to curcumin
• Menthyl ester forms from gingerol
• Gingerol converts to menthol

Correct Answer: Gingerol converts to zingerone

Q21. Which class of natural resins is exemplified by storax and contains cinnamic acid derivatives?

• Gutta-percha
• Balsams
• Shellac
• Colophony only

Correct Answer: Balsams

Q22. Which instrumental parameter is most informative for quantifying gingerol content in a sample?

• pH meter reading
• HPLC peak area at a characteristic wavelength
• Simple refractive index alone
• Weight change upon drying only

Correct Answer: HPLC peak area at a characteristic wavelength

Q23. Which term describes a resin that has been chemically modified to enhance solubility or adhesive properties?

• Unmodified balsam
• Derivatized or resin ester (e.g., rosin esters)
• Natural gum only
• Essential oil

Correct Answer: Derivatized or resin ester (e.g., rosin esters)

Q24. In quality control, the odour of ginger oleoresin is used to assess which attribute?

• Microbial load directly
• Organoleptic quality and presence of characteristic volatile compounds
• pH stability
• Inorganic impurity profile

Correct Answer: Organoleptic quality and presence of characteristic volatile compounds

Q25. What is the role of antioxidants added to commercial resins and oleoresins?

• Promote polymerization and hardening
• Prevent oxidative degradation of volatile and resinous constituents
• Convert resins to water-soluble gums
• Remove all pungency from ginger oleoresin

Correct Answer: Prevent oxidative degradation of volatile and resinous constituents

Q26. Which botanical part of ginger is the primary source for obtaining oleoresin?

• Leaves
• Rhizome (underground stem)
• Flowers
• Seeds

Correct Answer: Rhizome (underground stem)

Q27. Which physical characteristic is typical of many plant resins at room temperature?

• Highly crystalline and water-soluble
• Amorphous, brittle or viscous, insoluble in water
• Gaseous
• Perfectly liquid and extremely volatile

Correct Answer: Amorphous, brittle or viscous, insoluble in water

Q28. Which reagent is useful in TLC visualization to detect phenolic compounds like gingerol?

• UV light and anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid spray
• Silver nitrate without heating
• Simple distilled water
• Dragendorff’s reagent only for terpenes

Correct Answer: UV light and anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid spray

Q29. Which statement is true regarding the pharmacopoeial standardization of oleoresins?

• No analytical standards are required for oleoresins
• Oleoresins are standardized for marker compounds (e.g., gingerol content), physical constants and purity tests
• Only microbial sterility is assessed, nothing chemical
• They are standardized by taste alone

Correct Answer: Oleoresins are standardized for marker compounds (e.g., gingerol content), physical constants and purity tests

Q30. Which of the following best explains why ginger oleoresin is preferred over fresh ginger in some pharmaceutical formulations?

• Oleoresin has unpredictable concentration of actives
• Oleoresin provides concentrated, stable, and standardized bioactive constituents with easier formulation handling
• Fresh ginger is more shelf-stable and concentrated
• Oleoresin lacks active ginger compounds

Correct Answer: Oleoresin provides concentrated, stable, and standardized bioactive constituents with easier formulation handling

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