EVALUATION OF CRUDE DRUGS:

Evaluation of crude drug means determination of identity, purity and quality of a drug. 

Evaluation of crude is most important to know whether the drugs are adulterated with other substance or not. 

Before using any crude drug it must be checked for its quality and purity.

Methods of evaluation

There are five methods for evaluating crude drug for its quality and purity by considering morphological, physical and chemical characteristics.

Organoleptic evaluation 

Anatomical evaluation 

Physical evaluation 

Chemical evaluation 

Biological evaluation 

Organoleptic evaluation:

It includes the study of morphology and sensory characters. Two types are present

Sensory characters Gross features 

Sensory characters:

Size and Shape, Colour, Texture, Odour and Taste are useful in the evaluation of drugs.

Size and shape:

Each and every plant has its own shape for its fruits, leaves. And even a particular size is present.

Example is: Size: capsicum Leaves

Shape: Tragacanth- ribbon shaped,

Acacia- ovoid tear shaped.

Colour:

Each and every crude drug or plant has its own color for its flowers, fruits and seeds.

Example is:

Cardamom- green colour fruit 

Cinnamon- brown color bark 

Turmeric-yellow colour powder 

Texture:

Each and every plant has its own texture for better identification.