Storage of drugs of natural origin MCQs With Answer

Storage of drugs of natural origin MCQs With Answer is a focused learning resource for B. Pharm students covering practical aspects of pharmacognosy, herbal medicine stability, and regulatory storage practices. This introduction highlights keywords such as storage of drugs of natural origin, stability, moisture control, temperature, light sensitivity, packaging, shelf-life, microbial contamination, essential oils, alkaloids, glycosides and Good Storage Practice. Questions emphasize real-world storage challenges: hygroscopic powders, volatile constituents, photolabile compounds, cold chain needs, accelerated stability testing, and contamination control. The aim is to deepen your understanding of how physical, chemical and biological factors affect herbal drug preservation. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which factor most accelerates degradation of volatile essential oils during storage?

• High temperature
• Low humidity
• Dark storage
• Sealed amber glass

Correct Answer: High temperature

Q2. What is the recommended general condition for storing alkaloid-containing crude drugs?

• Warm and humid
• Cool, dry and dark
• Exposed to light
• Open containers

Correct Answer: Cool, dry and dark

Q3. Which packaging is most suitable for light-sensitive herbal extracts?

• Clear plastic bottles
• Aluminum foil laminate pouches
• Amber glass bottles
• Cardboard boxes without lining

Correct Answer: Amber glass bottles

Q4. Which measure best controls moisture uptake in dried herbal drugs during storage?

• Adding water to packaging
• Using desiccants and humidity-controlled storage
• Storing in open trays
• Frequent sprinkling of ethanol

Correct Answer: Using desiccants and humidity-controlled storage

Q5. Water activity (aw) in herbal materials primarily indicates:

• Total water present by weight
• The water available for microbial growth and chemical reactions
• The percentage of bound water only
• The pH of aqueous extracts

Correct Answer: The water available for microbial growth and chemical reactions

Q6. Which temperature range is appropriate for cold-chain storage of certain herbal injectables or perishable extracts?

• Room temperature (20–25°C)
• 2–8°C
• 30–40°C
• -20°C

Correct Answer: 2–8°C

Q7. Which class of phytochemicals is most volatile and prone to loss during improper storage?

• Alkaloids
• Essential oils (volatile oils)
• Polysaccharides
• Tannins

Correct Answer: Essential oils (volatile oils)

Q8. Which technique is commonly used to reduce oxidative degradation of herbal oils during storage?

• Exposure to air
• Nitrogen purging or inert atmosphere packaging
• Adding water to the headspace
• Storing in clear polyethylene

Correct Answer: Nitrogen purging or inert atmosphere packaging

Q9. Which preservative is frequently used in aqueous herbal formulations to inhibit microbial growth?

• Methylparaben (a paraben)
• Sodium chloride
• Pure distilled water
• Sucrose

Correct Answer: Methylparaben (a paraben)

Q10. According to common accelerated stability study conditions for herbal products, which storage condition is often used?

• 5°C and ambient RH
• 40°C and 75% RH
• 25°C and 10% RH
• -20°C and 100% RH

Correct Answer: 40°C and 75% RH

Q11. Which naturally occurring compound in plant drugs is especially sensitive to photodegradation?

• Carotenoids
• Cellulose
• Inorganic salts
• Starch

Correct Answer: Carotenoids

Q12. Which packaging material is most likely to adsorb lipophilic phytoconstituents and cause loss of active components?

• Glass
• Polyethylene (plastic)
• Amber glass
• Metal cans lined with inert coating

Correct Answer: Polyethylene (plastic)

Q13. Effective pest control in herbal drug storage areas should include:

• Ignoring minor infestations
• Regular inspection, sanitation and appropriate fumigation
• Storing food with herbs to attract insects
• Keeping doors and windows open at night

Correct Answer: Regular inspection, sanitation and appropriate fumigation

Q14. The primary method to establish shelf-life for a natural drug is:

• Manufacturer guesswork
• Stability studies under defined storage conditions
• Storing samples indefinitely
• Using any expiry printed on similar drugs

Correct Answer: Stability studies under defined storage conditions

Q15. For dried herbal materials, an appropriate relative humidity for storage is generally:

• Above 80% RH
• Below 60% RH
• Exactly 100% RH
• Any RH is acceptable

Correct Answer: Below 60% RH

Q16. Which contaminant accelerates oxidation of phenolic compounds in stored herbal drugs?

• Inert nitrogen
• Trace metal ions such as iron or copper
• Pure glass shards
• Activated carbon

Correct Answer: Trace metal ions such as iron or copper

Q17. To protect photolabile plant constituents, which container type is preferred?

• Clear PET bottles
• Opaque or foil-laminated pouches
• Open trays
• Unlined metal cans exposed to light

Correct Answer: Opaque or foil-laminated pouches

Q18. Best storage practice for bottled essential oils includes which of the following?

• Store in warm place with plastic cap loosely fitted
• Store in amber glass, cool dark place, tightly sealed
• Store in clear plastic with sunlight exposure
• Store in open beakers at room temperature

Correct Answer: Store in amber glass, cool dark place, tightly sealed

Q19. A common early indicator of microbial contamination in dried herbal powders is:

• Decrease in moisture content
• Development of musty odor and visible mold
• Improved aroma and color
• Decreased bulk density only

Correct Answer: Development of musty odor and visible mold

Q20. The most accurate technique for quantifying trace water in essential oil samples is:

• Loss on drying
• Karl Fischer titration
• Visual inspection
• pH measurement

Correct Answer: Karl Fischer titration

Q21. Prolonged exposure of glycoside-containing drugs to high humidity commonly causes:

• Enhanced potency indefinitely
• Hydrolysis of glycosides and microbial growth
• Complete resistance to heat
• Conversion to inorganic salts

Correct Answer: Hydrolysis of glycosides and microbial growth

Q22. Best practice for storage of seed-derived drug materials (e.g., fixed oils) is:

• Warm, humid, open storage
• Cool, dry, airtight containers away from light
• Direct sunlight to prevent mold
• Loose heap storage on floor

Correct Answer: Cool, dry, airtight containers away from light

Q23. Which additive is used to chelate trace metals and reduce metal-catalyzed oxidation in herbal formulations?

• EDTA
• Sodium chloride
• Glucose
• Citric acid only as flavoring

Correct Answer: EDTA

Q24. An advantage of amber glass over clear glass for herbal drug storage is that it:

• Is cheaper to produce
• Blocks ultraviolet and some visible light to reduce photodegradation
• Allows sunlight to enhance potency
• Is more permeable to oxygen

Correct Answer: Blocks ultraviolet and some visible light to reduce photodegradation

Q25. Which natural drug material typically requires refrigeration to maintain quality after processing?

• Dried powdered turmeric root
• Fresh Aloe vera gel
• Dried senna leaf
• Whole dried bark stored in sealed bags

Correct Answer: Fresh Aloe vera gel

Q26. For long-term storage of volatile oil-rich botanical extracts, the preferred container is:

• Thin polyethylene sachets
• Amber glass bottle with tight closure
• Open ceramic bowls
• Cardboard boxes without lining

Correct Answer: Amber glass bottle with tight closure

Q27. Good Storage Practice for a pharmacy mandatorily requires separation of:

• Toxic and non-toxic herbal drugs
• All herbs by color only
• Only liquid and solid dosage forms regardless of hazard
• Old stock with new stock without rotation

Correct Answer: Toxic and non-toxic herbal drugs

Q28. How should hygroscopic herbal powders be stored to retain potency?

• In open trays exposed to air
• In airtight containers with desiccant
• Mixed with water and frozen
• Under direct sunlight

Correct Answer: In airtight containers with desiccant

Q29. The principle behind accelerated stability studies for natural products is to:

• Expose samples to milder than normal conditions
• Use elevated temperature and humidity to predict long-term stability
• Only test samples at freezing conditions
• Rely solely on historical data without testing

Correct Answer: Use elevated temperature and humidity to predict long-term stability

Q30. Proper labeling of stored natural drug batches mainly ensures:

• Attractiveness of packaging
• Traceability, expiry information and safe handling instructions
• That contents are hidden from regulators
• That temperature control is unnecessary

Correct Answer: Traceability, expiry information and safe handling instructions

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