Nature & sources of drug

1. Subject : Pharmacology
Topic : Nature & Sources of Drug

2. Mineral
source e.g
lithium
carbonat
e
Microbiolo
gical source
e.g
gentamicin
Animal
source e.g
thyroxine
Genetically
Engineered
source e.g
altaplase
Essential
oils e.g
clove oil to
allay dental
pain
Fixed oils
e.g paraffin
as emollient
Mineral
preparat
ion e.g
Al(OH)3
Solid/po
wder &
Liquid
preparati
on e.g
NaHCO3
Nature & sources of drug

3. Synthetic source :
 Largest source of medicine
 Purity & uniformity of the product
 Synthetic drugs that are chiral can be produced as single active enantiomer
product, which may be therapeutically superior.
 Quality can be better controlled.
 Process is easier and cheaper
 The chemical structure of the prototype drug can be modified for more
potent & safer drug because pharmacological activity of a drug is a
function of its chemical structure & physical properties.
 E.g aspirin, phenytoin, chorpromazine ,etc.

4. Vegetable source :
 Plants contains biologically active ingredients
e.g. curare, qinghaosu
Alkaloids:
These are nitrogenous heterocyclic bases
derived from plants
Insoluble in water but being alkali-like, they
form salts with acids which are water soluble
They are mostly used as their water soluble
hydrochloride/sulfate salts.
Name of alkaloids with ‘ne’

5.  Glycosides :
 Plant products, where a sugar moiety is joined to a
non-sugar moiety with a ether.
glycoside sugar -o- non sugar Digoxin (Digitalis
purpurea)to treat
CHF
aminoglycoside aminosugar-o-non
sugar
Anthraquinone (senna)
as purgative
glucoside glucose -o-non sugar Arbutin
(Arctostaphylos) skin
lightening agent

6. Oils
 Obtained from leaves/flower
petals by steam distillation
 Have no caloric value
 Do not form soap with alkali
 Do not become rancid
 Some are solid at R.T. ,
sublimate on heating
 mostly used as carminative, astringents
,flavouring agent in mouthwashes
Menthol, camphor
 Obtained by solvent extraction of
crushed seeds
 Have caloric value
 Form soap with alkali
 become rancid on prolonged stay
 Have little pharmacological use
 E.g ground oil, coconut oil,
sesame oil

7. Essential oil Therapeutic use
Eucalyptus oil To treat nasal congestion, asthama, arthritis, skin ulcers
Clove oil Toothache control, expectorant, to treat bad breath, upset
stomach
Peppermint oil(menthol) Decongestant action, vasodilator, topical anesthetic drugs
Ginger oil To treat nausea, vomitting, after sugery, dizziness,
arthritis, menstrual pain, carminative
Menthol Counterirritant
Camphor Antitussive(anticough) , topical analgesic ,
Counterirritant
fixed oil Therapeutic use
Castor oil Purgative , astringent
Arachis oil demulent

8. Gums:
 Gums are colloidal exudates of the plants
 They swell/dissolve/form adhesive mucilage in water
 E.g. gums acacia & gum tragacanth : emulsifying/suspending agents,
demulcent(relieving inflammation)
Tannins :
Non-nitrogenous phenolic derivatives from plant source
Soluble in water
tannins Therapeutic use
Catechu To treat sore throats & diarrhea
Catechu Conc. Aqueous extract Astringent
Tinct. Rhubarb laxative, decrease patassium level in body

9.  Polymers of volatile oil & insoluble in water
Resins:
Resins Therapeutic use & in formulation
Benzoin Inhalation in common cold
Tinct.benzoin Antiseptic protective sealing over bruises
Tolu balsam Expectorant in coughing mixtures
Sesquiterpene
endoperoxide
Antitumour , anti-inflammation ,analgesic
,antiulcer , antifungal ,antiviral ,antiparasitic ,insect
deterrent
Artemisinin(artemisia
annua)
Antimalarial , antipyretic
Colophony (oleoresin) Ingredient in various plasters
Shella (lucifer lacca) For enteric coating of tablets

10. Animal source:
 Includes hormones, vitamins, vaccines & sera
Animal source Drug Animal source Drug
Pancreas Insulin Liver extract Vitamin 12
Thyroid Thyroxin Adrenal gland Adrenaline
Microbiological source:
Antibiotics are obtained from fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria
Vaccine are produced by the use of microbes

11. Mineral source:
Microbiological
source(antibiotics
)
Drug
(antibiotics)
Microbiological
source
Drug
(antibiotics)
Penicilium
notatum
Penicillin Streptomyces
venezuelae
Chloramphenicol
Streptomyces
griseus
Streptomycin Streptomyces
fradiae
Neomycin
Penicillium
griseofulvum
Griseofulvum
(antifungal)
Aspergillus oryzae Diastase (enzyme)
Mineral preparation:
Mostly petroleum products
Obtained by dry distillation of wood
Have no food value
Do not become rancid

12. Solid/powder & liquid preparation
Mineral source Therapeutic use Mineral source Therapeutic use
Hard & soft
paraffin
Vehicle for
preparation of
ointments
Liquid paraffin Purgative, laxative
Mineral source Therapeutic use Mineral source Therapeutic use
Aluminium
hydroxide, calcium
carbonate, sodium
bicarbonate
Antacids Tincture of iodine
& povidon iodine
solution
antiseptic
Kaolin(aluminium
silicate
Adsorbent in
antidiarrhoeal
Ferrous sulfate Used in anaemia
131I Diagnosis &
treatment of
thyrotoxicosis
Magnesium sulfate Purgative

13. Genetically
engineered/Biotechnological source :
 Manipulation of genetic material using recombinant
DNA technology
 A desired gene inserted into very fast multiplying non-
pathogenic strain of some bacteria
 E.g. E.coli-K12

14. Humulin (by inserting proinsulin gene
Recombinax -HB (a hepatitis-B vaccine
Human erythropoietin (stimulates production of
RBC)