Detection Of Adulteration By Dr.u.srinivasa, Professor And Head, Srinivas College Of Pharmacy, Mangalore - 574143. Karnataka 2r3110

DETECTION OF ADULTERATION Dr.U.Srinivasa, D.Pharm, M. Pharm., M.Phil., Ph.D. Professor and Head, (Dept. of Pharmacognosy) Srinivas college of pharmacy, Mangalore. Email. [email protected]

DETECTION OF ADULTERATION 

For the detection of adulteration many

different

procedures

are

available and it is always a good policy

to

obtain

confirmatory

evidence by using as many different means of detection as are available .

TYPES OF DETECTION 

The methods used for the detection mainly fall into viz., Observations and Experiments



i. Establish the identity of the adulterant and



ii. Establish the Quality of the drug

PARAMETERS USED 

1. Gross Morphology



2. Histology/ Microscopy



3. Microscopical Leaner Measurements



4. Solubility ( Liquids)

PARAMETERS USED 

6. Physical Constants



7. Ultra Violet Light



8. Process of Assay



9. Yield to Solvents



10. Ash Content

1. Gross Morphology 

It will give definite information about ungrounded drugs such as



Eg. Indian Senna pods substituted for Alexandrian pods

2. Histology/ Microscopy 

This

method

is

valuable

for

both

Organized and powders 

For Organized drugs: Here the detection of adulterants can be established or confirmed by an examination of i) Calcium oxalate crystals ii) Details of structure of trichomes and other features .

Examples 

Varieties of senna by the vein- islets number and Palisade ratio



Surinam Quassia is recognized by the absence presence rays

of of

Calcium

oxalate

Uniseriate

and

medullary

For powder drugs 

In

this

case,

the

knowledge

of

microscopical structure is essential. For this purpose it is necessary to know the histology of the genuine / original . 

Eg. Varieties of Aloes by the presence or absence of Crystals of aloin

3. Microscopical Linear measurements 

The length,

measurement width,

of

height

diameter, of

some

characters helps in detection 

Eg. The diameter of starch grains will assist in distinguishing varieties of Ipecac and also in distinguishing Cassia bark from Cinnamon bark.

4. Solubility 

It

is

especially

towards

solvents

exceptional

behavior

are

for

useful

the

examination of many oils, oleo- resins etc., 

Eg. Solubility of Castor oil in half its volume of

Light

Petroleum

and

the

turbidity

produced with two volumes of the solvent.

5.Qualitative Chemical Tests 

Most of these tests are Colour tests which

are

specific

for

certain

substances 

Eg. Halphen’ s test for Cotton seed oil



Eg. Fiehe ‘s test for Adulterated Honey

6. Physical Constants Such as Specific Gravity, Optical rotation, Viscosity, Refractive index are especially valuable for Oils ,fats, oleo resins , balsams and similar substances  Eg. Clove oil (R.I) – 1.527- 1.5350  Eg. Clove oil ( Optical rotation) – o to 1.50  Specific gravity( Sandal wood oil) – 0.973 to 0.985 

7. Ultra Violet light 

Many drugs fluorescence when the cut surface

or the powder is exposed to

U.V.radiation

and

it

is

a

useful

procedure to examine in UV.light 

Eg. The Indian and Chinese rhubarb are well differentiated in powder form by U.V

8. Process of Assay 

It gives the quality of the drug. The results

obtained

will

detect

the

presence of inferior or exhausted drug and by providing absence of the constituent , will suggest complete substitution of worthless articles.

Examples 

Strychnine in Nux Vomica



Tropane alkaloid in Datura

9.Yield to solvents 

This provides a process of assay for drugs such as,



Eg. Linseed which contain fixed oil as an important constituent and the yield to the solvent ether is a means of assay.

10. Ash values 

It helps to determine the amount of

inorganic

salts

present

like

potassium, magnesium etc., 

Useful for detecting low- grade, exhausted and excess sandy or earthy material with the drug

Examples 

Very useful for powder drugs



Clove – Total ash not more than 5.0%



Pectin – Total ash not more than 4.0%

Questions 

Define Adulteration with examples



Define the adulterant, substitute and original drug



Give the various reasons for adulteration



Differentiate with examples Deliberate and indeliberate adulteration

Questions 

Name

the

different

methods

of

adulteration 

Explain

with

examples

various

methods of adulteration 

Write

a

note

adulteration

on

detection

of