Introduction: Sources of drugs — plants MCQs With Answer is a focused review for B. Pharm students covering medicinal plant origins, key phytochemicals, and pharmacognostic principles. This concise guide emphasizes keywords such as sources of drugs, plants, phytochemicals, alkaloids, glycosides, terpenes, secondary metabolites, extraction methods, standardization, and quality control. It integrates taxonomy, biosynthetic pathways (shikimate, mevalonate, polyketide), major drug examples (morphine, quinine, paclitaxel, digoxin), and analytical tools like HPTLC and DNA barcoding. Questions progress from identification and pharmacology to cultivation, isolation, and regulatory aspects to deepen understanding for therapeutic and research applications. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which class of plant secondary metabolites includes morphine and quinine?
- Flavonoids
- Alkaloids
- Terpenes
- Glycosides
Correct Answer: Alkaloids
Q2. Digitalis species are primary sources of which type of therapeutic compounds?
- Saponins
- Cardiac glycosides
- Alkaloids
- Polyphenols
Correct Answer: Cardiac glycosides
Q3. The shikimate pathway in plants mainly leads to biosynthesis of which precursors?
- Isoprenoids
- Aromatic amino acids
- Fatty acids
- Polyketides
Correct Answer: Aromatic amino acids
Q4. Paclitaxel (Taxol), an anticancer drug, is primarily isolated from which genus?
- Taxus
- Digitalis
- Cinchona
- Rauvolfia
Correct Answer: Taxus
Q5. Atropine is chiefly obtained from plants of which family?
- Fabaceae
- Solanaceae
- Apiaceae
- Lamiaceae
Correct Answer: Solanaceae
Q6. Vincristine and vinblastine are alkaloids extracted from which plant?
- Catharanthus roseus
- Papaver somniferum
- Aesculus hippocastanum
- Taxus baccata
Correct Answer: Catharanthus roseus
Q7. Which laboratory extraction technique uses a continuous hot solvent wash through a solid sample?
- Maceration
- Soxhlet extraction
- Percolation
- Steam distillation
Correct Answer: Soxhlet extraction
Q8. Which pharmacognostic parameter assesses inorganic residue in powdered herbal drugs?
- Moisture content
- Ash value
- Extractive value
- pH
Correct Answer: Ash value
Q9. Loss on drying primarily measures which characteristic of a crude plant drug?
- Total ash
- Moisture content
- Alkaloid content
- Volatile oil percentage
Correct Answer: Moisture content
Q10. Quinine, an antimalarial alkaloid, is extracted from which plant genus?
- Cinchona
- Rauvolfia
- Artemisia
- Digitalis
Correct Answer: Cinchona
Q11. Reserpine, used historically for hypertension, is isolated from which plant?
- Rauvolfia serpentina
- Atropa belladonna
- Papaver somniferum
- Taxus brevifolia
Correct Answer: Rauvolfia serpentina
Q12. Which class of phytochemicals is typically associated with yellow pigments and antioxidant activity?
- Terpenes
- Flavonoids
- Alkaloids
- Steroids
Correct Answer: Flavonoids
Q13. For phytochemical fingerprinting of herbal extracts, which technique is widely used in pharmacognosy labs?
- Paper chromatography
- HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography)
- Simple distillation
- Gravimetric analysis
Correct Answer: HPTLC (High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography)
Q14. WHO recommends which guideline for cultivation and collection of medicinal plants to ensure raw material quality?
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)
- GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices)
- GDP (Good Distribution Practices)
- GLP (Good Laboratory Practices)
Correct Answer: GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices)
Q15. Which plant-derived alkaloid is a prototypical opioid analgesic?
- Atropine
- Morphine
- Reserpine
- Quinine
Correct Answer: Morphine
Q16. Which method is most suitable for isolating volatile (essential) oils from plant material?
- Soxhlet extraction
- Steam distillation
- Maceration in cold solvent
- Percolation
Correct Answer: Steam distillation
Q17. Which biosynthetic class arises predominantly from successive condensation of acetyl-CoA units?
- Alkaloids
- Polyketides
- Terpenoids
- Shikimic acid derivatives
Correct Answer: Polyketides
Q18. Determination of botanical identity and detection of adulteration at microscopic level is performed by which method?
- Microscopy
- TLC profiling
- pH measurement
- Loss on drying
Correct Answer: Microscopy
Q19. Which of the following anticancer drugs is NOT primarily plant-derived?
- Vincristine
- Paclitaxel
- Doxorubicin
- Etoposide
Correct Answer: Doxorubicin
Q20. Digitalis purpurea, used for cardiac glycosides, belongs to which botanical family?
- Solanaceae
- Plantaginaceae
- Apocynaceae
- Fabaceae
Correct Answer: Plantaginaceae
Q21. Sennosides, used as stimulant laxatives, are classified as which type of compounds?
- Anthraquinone glycosides
- Alkaloids
- Terpenoids
- Flavonoids
Correct Answer: Anthraquinone glycosides
Q22. Which colorimetric assay is commonly used to estimate total phenolic content in plant extracts?
- Bradford assay
- Kjeldahl method
- Folin–Ciocalteu assay
- ELISA
Correct Answer: Folin–Ciocalteu assay
Q23. Which in vitro cultivation technique allows production and scaling of plant secondary metabolites?
- Open-field cultivation
- Plant tissue culture (cell/suspension culture)
- Hydroponics
- Wild harvesting
Correct Answer: Plant tissue culture (cell/suspension culture)
Q24. Ephedrine, a sympathomimetic amine, is mainly derived from which genus?
- Ephedra
- Papaver
- Cinchona
- Digitalis
Correct Answer: Ephedra
Q25. Which solvent is generally most effective for extracting polar glycosides from plant material?
- Hexane
- Methanol
- Chloroform
- Diethyl ether
Correct Answer: Methanol
Q26. The therapeutic action of cardiac glycosides primarily involves inhibition of which membrane protein?
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Na+/K+-ATPase
- Cyclooxygenase
- Monoamine oxidase
Correct Answer: Na+/K+-ATPase
Q27. Which plant-derived alkaloid is commonly used as an antitussive?
- Reserpine
- Codeine
- Atropine
- Quinine
Correct Answer: Codeine
Q28. For unambiguous species-level authentication of raw herbal material, which modern technique is most reliable?
- TLC profiling
- DNA barcoding
- Ash value determination
- Moisture content analysis
Correct Answer: DNA barcoding
Q29. Which part of Aloe vera is most commonly used in topical and internal herbal preparations?
- Root
- Leaf
- Seed
- Flower
Correct Answer: Leaf
Q30. Artemisinin, an important antimalarial, is isolated from which plant species?
- Cinchona officinalis
- Artemisia annua
- Rauvolfia serpentina
- Taxus brevifolia
Correct Answer: Artemisia annua
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