Crude drug

[citation needed] Identification of the crude drug by organoleptic characters is one of the important aspects of pharmacognostical study.

However, shape and size of crude drugs as described in official books should only be considered as guidelines and may vary depending upon several factors.

Depending upon the condition under which the drug is growing or cultivated, i.e., availability of proper irrigation, fertilizers or even high temperature, may influence the size may be available and the crude drugs if grown in adverse conditions may be of small size.

Thus, gum acacia is found in the form of ovoid tears, while tragacanth is marketed as vermiform ribbon with longitudinal striations.

In recent history, the development of modern chemistry and application of the scientific method shaped the use of crude drugs.

The realization that many completely unknown substances are yet to be discovered from crude drugs has created a new interest in pharmacognosy and has led to many medical breakthroughs.

An example of standardization would be as follows (from the United States Pharmacopeia):[1] Opium is the air-dried milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum Linne or its variety album De Candolle (Fam.