title: Pharmacognostical Studies.
abstract: The chapter deals with tools and techniques employed in pharmacognosy. Pharmacognostic evaluation helps to screen the commercial varieties, substitutes, adulterants and any other quality control of the drugs. It is a simple and reliable tool, helps to obtain information about biochemical and physical properties of crude drug. Methods such as macroscopic and microscopic analysis, maceration, histochemical colour reaction, photomicrography, organoleptic character of plant powder and extracts, fluorescence analysis of plant powder with different chemical reagents, determination of pH of plant powder, water solubility index (WSI) and water absorption index (WAI) and acid value are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065132:Bioprospecting / Q000379:methods; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010598:Pharmacognosy / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011786:Quality Control; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations