Introduction

Crude drugs are vegetable or animal drug that contain natural substances that have undergone only the processes of collection and drying. The term natural substances refers to those substances found in nature that have not had man-made changes made in their molecular structure. They are used as medicine for human being and animal, internally and externally for curing disease, e.g., Senna and Cinchona.

A crude drug is any naturally occurring, unrefined substance derived from organic or inorganic sources such as plant, animal, bacteria, organs or whole organisms intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or other animals.

Crude drugs are plant, animal or their parts which after collection are subjected only to drying or making them into transverse/ longitudinal slices pieces or peeling them in some cases. They exist in natural form. Crude drugs may be derived from various natural sources like Plants, Animals, Minerals, Marine and Micro-organisms etc.

Classification of crude drugs

Although each system of classification has its own merits and demerits, but for the purpose of study the drugs are classified in the following different ways: • Alphabetical classification • Morphological classification • Taxonomical classification • Pharmacological classification • Chemical classification • Chemo-taxonomical classification • Serotaxonomical classification.

With the development of civilization, human beings are using crude drugs as in the form of paste, juice, decoctions, etc. Therefore, several research groups have performed experiments to provide scientific evidence of the traditional medicines. Phytochemicals (including herbal drugs) are regarded as drug products whose active constituents are crude drugs (herbal ingredients) or preparations of crude drugs (herbal products). A crude drug or preparation of crude drug is considered in its entirety as an active constituent according to the Federal Health Office of Germany.

The scope of Pharmacognosy has broadened in recent years to include the identification or authentication of crude drugs (using macroscopic, microscopic, or chemical methods), and their biopharmacological and clinical evaluations. Research studies in Pharmacognosy currently include studies in the areas of phytochemistry, microbial chemistry, biosynthesis, biotransformation, bioinformatics, and chemotaxonomy. Pharmacognosy has also become an important link between pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.

A variety of crude drugs and herbal medicines are used as traditional medicines all around the world. An increased awareness of the efficacy of natural resources has resulted in an increasing number of medicines made from active substances extracted from crude drugs. Shimadzu offers analytical instrumentation solutions to address issues ranging from drug development to quality control of crude drugs.

Cultivation of medicinal plants requires intensive care and management. The conditions and duration of cultivation required vary depending on the quality of medicinal plant materials required. The pharmacological function of crude drugs is called "Yakuno" in Japanese. Crude drugs with properties classified as cold or cool have the function to clear heat as they cool the body. Crude drugs classified as bBitter also have the function to clear heat. We speculated that anti-inflammatory constituents are included in crude drugs and food that are classified as cold or cool in property and bitter in taste.

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Regards

Mary Wilson

Editorial office

Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research

E-mail: pharmatoxicol@eclinicalsci.com