Official and Non-Official Drugs: Pharmacognosy is the branch of pharmaceutical science that deals with crude drugs obtained from natural sources such as plants, animals, minerals, and microorganisms. Crude drugs have been used since ancient times for the treatment and prevention of diseases. As pharmaceutical science developed, it became necessary to organize, standardize, and classify these drugs systematically for proper identification, evaluation, study, and therapeutic application.
The classification of crude drugs is one of the fundamental concepts in pharmacognosy. Since medicinal substances originate from diverse natural sources and possess different chemical compositions and pharmacological actions, scientists developed various systems of classification based on morphology, taxonomy, chemistry, pharmacology, and other criteria.
In addition to classification systems, crude drugs are also categorized as official or non-official, and codified or non-codified depending on their recognition in pharmacopoeias and traditional systems of medicine.
A proper understanding of these concepts is essential for pharmacy students, pharmacognosists, herbal researchers, and pharmaceutical industries because it forms the basis for identification, standardization, quality control, and therapeutic use of crude drugs.
Official and Non-Official Drugs
Official Drugs
Official drugs are those drugs that are included in recognized pharmacopoeias or official compendia of a country.
A pharmacopoeia provides legally recognized standards regarding:
- Identity
- Purity
- Strength
- Quality
- Storage
- Preparation
of medicinal substances.
Therefore, drugs listed in official pharmacopoeias are known as official drugs.
Examples of Official Pharmacopoeias
Examples include:
- Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP)
- British Pharmacopoeia (BP)
- United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)
Characteristics of Official Drugs
Official drugs possess recognized standards for quality and purity. Their methods of identification, assay, storage, and labeling are clearly described in pharmacopoeias.
These drugs are legally accepted for medicinal use and are manufactured according to prescribed pharmaceutical standards.
Examples of Official Drugs
Examples include:
- Senna
- Digitalis
- Clove
- Ginger
- Belladonna
- Ipecac
because these are included in recognized pharmacopoeias.
Importance of Official Drugs
Official status ensures uniformity and quality control. It protects the public from adulterated or substandard medicines and provides guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturing and analysis.
Non-Official Drugs
Non-official drugs are drugs that are not included in recognized pharmacopoeias or official compendia.
These drugs may still possess medicinal value and may be used traditionally or locally, but they lack official recognition and standardization.
Characteristics of Non-Official Drugs
Non-official drugs do not have officially established standards regarding purity, strength, or quality.
They may be used in folk medicine, traditional systems, or local healthcare practices.
Examples of Non-Official Drugs
Examples include certain regional medicinal herbs and folk remedies that are not included in official pharmacopoeias.
Some newly discovered medicinal plants may also remain non-official until sufficient scientific evidence and standardization are established.
Importance of Non-Official Drugs
Many non-official drugs serve as potential sources for future drug discovery and research. Several modern drugs originated from traditional remedies initially regarded as non-official.
Difference Between Official and Non-Official Drugs
Official drugs are recognized in pharmacopoeias and possess legally accepted standards, whereas non-official drugs are not included in official compendia.
Official drugs undergo standardization and quality control procedures, while non-official drugs may lack standardized specifications.
Official drugs are widely accepted in pharmaceutical practice, whereas non-official drugs are mainly used in traditional or local medicine systems.
Codified and Non-Codified Drugs
Codified Drugs
Codified drugs are drugs described in classical texts or official traditional systems of medicine.
These drugs are documented systematically in authoritative literature regarding their preparation, properties, dosage, and therapeutic uses.
Characteristics of Codified Drugs
Codified drugs possess historical documentation and traditional recognition.
Their therapeutic uses, formulations, and methods of preparation are recorded in official traditional medical texts.
Examples of Codified Drugs
Examples include drugs described in:
- Ayurveda
- Unani
- Siddha
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
For example:
- Ashwagandha
- Tulsi
- Brahmi
- Senna
Importance of Codified Drugs
Codified drugs have historical evidence of therapeutic use and form the basis of traditional healthcare systems.
They also provide important leads for modern pharmacological research.
Non-Codified Drugs
Non-codified drugs are medicinal substances not described in classical texts or official traditional systems.
These drugs may be newly discovered medicinal plants or substances used in local folk medicine.
Characteristics of Non-Codified Drugs
They lack official historical documentation and standardized formulations.
Scientific evaluation of these drugs may still be incomplete.
Examples of Non-Codified Drugs
Many ethnomedicinal plants used by tribal communities are non-codified drugs.
Some newly identified medicinal plants also fall into this category.
Importance of Non-Codified Drugs
Non-codified drugs are important sources for new drug discovery and ethnopharmacological research.
Many valuable drugs may emerge from systematic study of non-codified medicinal plants.
Classification of Crude Drugs
Crude drugs are natural substances obtained from plants, animals, minerals, or microorganisms that have undergone only simple processing such as drying or size reduction.
Since thousands of crude drugs exist with diverse characteristics, classification systems are necessary for:
- Easy identification
- Scientific study
- Standardization
- Understanding relationships
- Therapeutic application
Different methods of classification are used depending on the purpose of study.
The major systems of classification include:
- Alphabetical classification
- Morphological classification
- Taxonomical classification
- Chemical classification
- Pharmacological classification
- Chemotaxonomical classification
Alphabetical Classification
In alphabetical classification, crude drugs are arranged alphabetically according to their names.
The arrangement may be based on:
- English names
- Latin names
- Vernacular names
Examples
Examples:
- Acacia
- Belladonna
- Clove
- Digitalis
- Ginger
- Senna
This system is commonly used in pharmacopoeias, dictionaries, and reference books.
Merits of Alphabetical Classification
Alphabetical classification is simple and convenient.
It allows rapid location of drugs in books and references.
No specialized scientific knowledge is required for using this system.
It is especially useful for traders, pharmacists, and students for quick reference.
Limitations of Alphabetical Classification
This system does not provide scientific information regarding:
- Morphology
- Chemical constituents
- Pharmacological action
- Biological relationships
Drugs with similar properties are not grouped together.
Therefore, it has limited scientific value.
Morphological Classification
Morphological classification groups crude drugs according to their external form, shape, or plant part used.
This system is based mainly on plant morphology.
Types of Morphological Classification
Crude drugs are classified as:
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Seeds
- Barks
- Roots
- Rhizomes
- Woods
- Entire herbs
- Unorganized drugs
Examples
Leaves
- Senna
- Digitalis
- Eucalyptus
Barks
- Cinnamon
- Cinchona
Roots
- Rauwolfia
- Liquorice
Seeds
- Nux vomica
- Isabgol
Unorganized Drugs
- Aloe
- Opium
- Honey
Merits of Morphological Classification
This system is simple and convenient for practical identification.
It is useful for beginners in pharmacognosy.
Drugs can be easily recognized according to external appearance.
It is highly useful during collection, storage, and commerce.
Limitations of Morphological Classification
Morphologically similar drugs may differ chemically and pharmacologically.
It does not indicate biological relationships or chemical constituents.
Unorganized drugs cannot always be classified properly.
Taxonomical Classification
Taxonomical classification arranges drugs according to botanical taxonomy and natural relationships.
Plants are classified based on:
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Examples
Family: Solanaceae
- Belladonna
- Datura
- Hyoscyamus
Family: Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)
- Fennel
- Coriander
- Caraway
Merits of Taxonomical Classification
This system shows natural biological relationships among plants.
Closely related plants often possess similar chemical constituents and pharmacological actions.
It is scientifically important for botanical studies and research.
Limitations of Taxonomical Classification
Taxonomically related plants may differ significantly in therapeutic action.
This system is less useful for practical pharmacy and commerce.
Animal and mineral drugs cannot be classified properly.
Chemical Classification
Chemical classification groups drugs according to their major chemical constituents responsible for therapeutic activity.
Examples
Alkaloids
- Belladonna
- Rauwolfia
- Nux vomica
Glycosides
- Digitalis
- Senna
Volatile Oils
- Clove
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
Tannins
- Catechu
- Nutgall
Resins
- Colophony
- Asafoetida
Merits of Chemical Classification
This system is highly useful for understanding pharmacological activity.
Drugs containing similar constituents are grouped together.
It is valuable for phytochemical research and extraction work.
It helps in identifying adulteration and substitution.
Limitations of Chemical Classification
Some drugs contain multiple active constituents and are difficult to classify.
Complete chemical composition may not always be known.
This system does not indicate botanical relationships.
Pharmacological Classification
Pharmacological classification groups drugs according to their therapeutic effects or pharmacological actions.
Examples
Laxatives
- Senna
- Castor oil
Cardiotonics
- Digitalis
Analgesics
- Opium
Antihypertensives
- Rauwolfia
Carminatives
- Fennel
- Coriander
Merits of Pharmacological Classification
This system is highly useful for physicians and pharmacists.
It helps understand therapeutic uses directly.
Drugs with similar actions are grouped together for clinical convenience.
Limitations of Pharmacological Classification
Drugs with multiple pharmacological actions may fit into several groups.
This system does not indicate chemical composition or taxonomy.
Different drugs with unrelated chemistry may appear in the same group.
Chemotaxonomical Classification
Chemotaxonomical classification combines taxonomy with chemical constituents.
It classifies plants according to both botanical relationships and characteristic chemical compounds.
Principle of Chemotaxonomy
Closely related plants often produce similar secondary metabolites.
These chemical markers help establish evolutionary relationships.
Examples
Solanaceae Family
Contains tropane alkaloids:
- Belladonna
- Datura
- Hyoscyamus
Apiaceae Family
Contains volatile oils:
- Fennel
- Coriander
- Caraway
Merits of Chemotaxonomical Classification
This system combines advantages of taxonomy and chemistry.
It helps discover new medicinal plants with similar constituents.
It is highly valuable in modern pharmacognosy and phytochemistry research.
Limitations of Chemotaxonomical Classification
It requires advanced chemical and botanical knowledge.
Sophisticated analytical techniques may be necessary.
Not all plants follow strict chemotaxonomic patterns.
Conclusion
The concepts of official and non-official drugs, codified and non-codified drugs, and various systems of crude drug classification form the foundation of pharmacognosy.
Official and codified drugs possess recognized standards and historical documentation, ensuring quality and therapeutic reliability. Non-official and non-codified drugs remain important sources for future research and drug discovery.
Different classification systems provide unique advantages depending on the purpose of study. Alphabetical and morphological classifications are simple and practical, while taxonomical, chemical, pharmacological, and chemotaxonomical classifications provide scientific understanding regarding relationships, constituents, and therapeutic actions.
No single system is completely perfect; therefore, multiple classification methods are often used together in pharmacognosy for comprehensive understanding, identification, evaluation, and utilization of crude drugs.
