About Book
The Textbook of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry – I provides a comprehensive foundation in the study of crude drugs and their significance in pharmacy, medicine, and allied sciences. It begins with a clear introduction to pharmacognosy, tracing its history, scope, and development while highlighting the diverse sources of drugs, including plants, animals, marine organisms, and tissue culture products. The book carefully distinguishes between organized drugs such as leaves, roots, and barks, and unorganized drugs like dried latex, juices, gums, mucilage’s, oleoresins, and oleo-gum-resins. It then presents systematic approaches to drug classification, covering alphabetical, morphological, chemical, pharmacological, and modern chemo-taxonomical and sero-taxonomical systems. The crucial subject of adulteration is explained with definitions and examples, helping learners identify and prevent fraudulent practices in crude drug trade. Evaluation techniques form another major focus, ranging from organoleptic and microscopic methods to chemical, biological, and advanced quantitative microscopy approaches such as the Lycopodium spore method and the use of leaf constants. Practical laboratory tools like camera lucida are also introduced for accurate diagrammatic representation. Cultivation, collection, processing, and storage of medicinal plants are described in depth, with special attention to factors like soil, climate, hormones, polyploidy, mutation, and hybridization. Conservation of medicinal plants is emphasized to ensure sustainability of natural resources. The section on plant tissue culture highlights its historical development, nutritional requirements, types, and pharmaceutical applications, including the production of edible vaccines. Pharmacognosy role across medical systems—Allopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, and Chinese medicine—is examined to showcase its universal relevance. Secondary metabolites are introduced through the study of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils, and resins, with emphasis on their classification, properties, and identification tests. Fibers like cotton, jute, and hemp are explained in terms of source, chemistry, and uses. Topics such as hallucinogens, teratogens, and natural allergens broaden the scope to include substances of toxicological importance. Primary metabolites including carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, and lipids are presented with details of their chemistry, preparation, evaluation, preservation, therapeutic uses, and commercial applications. Important carbohydrate drugs like acacia, agar, tragacanth, and honey are discussed in depth. Protein products such as gelatin and casein, along with enzymes like papain, bromelain, serratiopeptidase, urokinase, streptokinase, and pepsin, are studied as valuable pharmaceutical aids. Lipids including castor oil, chaulmoogra oil, wool fat, and beeswax are explained with their industrial and therapeutic utilities. Finally, the book introduces marine Pharmacognosy, describing novel medicinal agents derived from oceans as an emerging frontier in drug discovery. Altogether, the book blends traditional knowledge with modern scientific perspectives, making it an essential text for pharmacy students and researchers exploring natural products.
About Author
Dr. Vasundhara Saxena is having more than 15 years of teaching and research experience. She is currently working as Associate Professor in Sharda University, Agra. She has completed her masters in Pharmacognosy from BBD, NITM GBTU, Lucknow in 2011 with GATE Fellowship, and her doctorate studies from AKTU, Lucknow in 2018. She is having a brilliant focus on academic excellence for the betterment of students. She has been authored more than 15 books and book chapters with various national and international publications. She has been actively participated in pharmaceutical and interdisciplinary research for last 12 years. She has published 5 patents as well. She has produced more than 30 review and research articles in various national and international (Scopus/SCI) journals. Her interest of work is in the field of Herbal drug and formulation standardization, Herbal Drug Technology, Phytochemistry and Natural Products.
Ms Jyoti Singh is a dedicated academician and researcher with strong expertise in Pharmaceutics and over two years of teaching and research experience. She is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Sharda School of Pharmacy, Sharda University (formerly Anand College of Pharmacy), where she contributed significantly to academic, research, and institutional activities. She completed her M.Pharm in Pharmaceutics from GLA University with outstanding academic performance. Her professional journey reflects her commitment to academic excellence, scientific learning, and student development. She has actively participated in organising national conferences, scientific events, and academic programs. She has authored and co-authored multiple research publications in UGC-CARE, Scopus, and PubMed-indexed journals, along with contributing book chapters and filing patents in innovative pharmaceutical domains. Her core research interests include formulation development, herbal drug technology, colon-targeted drug delivery systems, and interdisciplinary pharmaceutical sciences. She is proficient in handling key pharmaceutics instruments, data analysis software, and scientific tools, demonstrating a strong inclination toward research and development, innovation, and quality education.
Mrs. Goldee Yadav, graduated from Pranveer singh Institute of Technology, Kanpur Uttar Pradesh in 2008. She is completed her M.pharm (Pharmacognosy) from Babu Banarsi Das National Institute of Technology, Lucknow in 2011. She qualified her the GPAT in 2018.She has 08 years experience in Pharmaceutical Industry Like AlkemLaboratories, Sentiss Pharma, Samarth Life Sciences in Production and Quality Assurance and 05 years in academics. She has authored and co-authored in multiple research publications in UGC-care, Scopus journals. Presently she is working as Associate Professor at Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rama University, Kanpur.(UP) India.
Ms Keerti is a dedicated academician and researcher with strong expertise in Pharmacognosy and over two years of teaching and research experience. She is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Faculty of pharmaceutical science, Rama University, where she contributed significantly to academic, research, and institutional activities. She completed her M.Pharm in Pharmacognosy from Advance institute of biotech and paramedical science, AKTU University with outstanding academic performance. Her professional journey reflects her commitment to academic excellence, scientific learning, and student development. She has actively participated in organising national conferences, scientific events, and academic programs. She has authored and co-authored multiple review publications in UGC-CARE and PubMed-indexed journals, along with contributing book chapter in innovative pharmaceutical domains. Her core research interests include herbal formulation development, herbal drug technology, colon-targeted drug delivery systems, and interdisciplinary pharmaceutical sciences. She is proficient in handling key pharmaceutics instruments, data analysis software, and scientific tools, demonstrating a strong inclination toward research and development, innovation, and quality education..
Ms Mansi Gupta is a dedicated research scholar with strong expertise in Pharmacognosy. She is pursing M.pharm from Advance institute of Pharmaceutical science, AKTU University, where she contributed significantly to academic, research, and institutional activities. She completed her B.Pharm from Narayana vidhyapeeth group of institute, faculty of pharmacy with outstanding academic performance. Her professional journey reflects her commitment to academic excellence, scientific learning, and student development. She has actively participated in organising national conferences, scientific events, and academic programs. She has authored and co-authored multiple review publications in UGC-CARE. Her core research interests include formulation development, herbal drug technology, colon-targeted drug delivery systems, and interdisciplinary pharmaceutical sciences. She is proficient in handling key pharmaceutics instruments, data analysis software, and scientific tools, demonstrating a strong inclination toward research and development, innovation, and quality education.
