Page 30 - Medicinal Plants_PharmD general

4. Form or shape of the drug

Examples:Colophony in the entire form (big masses) is preserved
nicely, but if stored in powdered form, it gets oxidized or loses
solubility in petroleum ether. Squill, when stored in powdered form
becomes hygroscopic and forms rubbery mass on prolonged exposure
to air. The fixed oil in the powdered ergot becomes rancid on storage.
In order to maintain a good quality of ergot, it is required that the drug
should be defatted with lipid solvent prior to storage.

5. Atmospheric oxygen is also destructive to several drugs and

hence, they are filled completely in well closed containers, or the air in
the container is replaced by an inert gas like nitrogen.

6. Fungi, mould and insect pests

Different types of insects, nematodes, worms, moulds and mites infest
the crude drugs during storage. Together with moisture controls,
checking to detect mould development must be regularly carried out.
Prompt isolation and treatment of the infected herbs must be done.
Storerooms with mould-infected drugs must be chemically sterilized.
Pests can be controlled by sun-drying, heat-drying or the use of
chemical methods such as fumigation or sterilization with aluminium
phosphide. If chemicals are used, safety precautions must be taken to
prevent poisoning. At times, drugs are given special treatment, such as
liming of the ginger and coating of nutmeg.

7. Shelf-life

Prolonged shelf storage is labour-consuming and may lead to a
deterioration in quality. It is recommended that stored herbs be
distributed every year as the new crops become available.

-30-