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.
usreenivas1966@rediffmail.com

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

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 terms 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

note

adulteration

on

detection

of