EXPERIMENT NO.

ORGANOLEPTIC EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF PLANTS

Name: _____________________________________ Date : ________________
Group No.: _________________________________ Score : _______________

Objectives: At the end of the class, the students are expected to:
• Define terms used to characterize the different kinds of plant parts
• Illustrate the different characteristics of each plant part.
• Discuss the significance of each plant part in drug production.
• Create a crude drug-assigned to each group

Discussion:
Organoleptic evaluation refers to the evaluation of crude drugs using organs of
sense. Organoleptic evaluation represents the simplest, yet the most human form of
analysis. The study includes macroscopic, or external morphology, such as odor, color,
taste, and sounds of its fracture. The macroscopic features of crude drugs include size,
shape, external color, odor, taste, fractures, and internal color.
Size: The size of a crude drug encompasses measurements of length, breadth, and
diameter. It may be measured in mm or cm.
Shape: The crude drug may have different shapes. (e.g., Sarsaparilla root – cylindrical;
Podophyllum – subcylindrical; Nux vomica- disk shape)
External color: Crude drugs may acquire a variety of colors. The colors of the crude drugs
vary from white to yellowish gray, yellowish brown, reddish-orange, or brownish
black. The fruits and seeds of crude drugs have different colors whilst barks
possess brownish gray to brownish black color. The internal and external color of
the barks varies; the internal color is lighter than the outer one. The color of some
crude drugs changes if they are dried in sunlight. (e.g., Reserpine is described as
white or pale buff to slightly yellowish)
Odor of crude drug: The crude drugs may be odorless or pose an odor that may be
distinct (Mentha, Clove ) or indistinct. The terms used to define odor are aromatic,
balsamic, spicy, alliaceous (garlic-like), fruity, and pungent. (e.g., Ergot has rancid
(ammonical) smell)
Taste of crude drug: The crude drugs may possess a characteristic taste or may be
tasteless. The terms used to define the taste of crude drugs are sour (acidic). salty
(saline), sweet (Saccharine), bitter, alkaline, tasteless, and metallic. (e.g. Ginger
and Capsicum have pungent taste; Glycyrrhiza and Honey are sweet in taste) The

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 taste produced by the tongue is classified as mucilaginous, oily, astringent
(contraction of the tissues of the mouth) pungent (warm biting sensation), acrid
(unpleasant, irritating sensation ), and nauseous ( causing vomiting ).
Fracture: There are three (3) types of fracture
1. Complete fracture: the crude drug breaks completely when pressure is
applied
2. Incomplete fracture: the crude drug does not break completely when the
fracture is applied
3. Short fracture: the crude drug breaks with a snap sound when pressure is
applied

Materials:
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Procedure:
Answer the following questions.

A. Underground Parts
1. Define the following terms used to characterize the different kinds of
underground structures.
a. Types: Root, Tuberous root, Tuber , Bulb, Corm

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 b. Shapes (illustrate each ): Cylindrical, Conical, Cusiform, Pyriform, Ovoid, Disk-
shaped

Learning Evaluation :
1. In general, when are underground plant parts used as drugs collected and how
are the adhering soil particles removed?

2. After cleaning , how are these drugs dried, stored and preserved?

3. Describe briefly the procedures recommended by the USP for sampling

vegetables drugs for analysis.

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 4. What is USP definition of pesticides? Why are some vegetable drugs analyzed for
pesticide residues? Give examples of official vegetable drugs for which testing
for pesticide residues is required?

B. Leaves
1. Define and illustrate the following characteristics of leaves:
a. Composition – Simple, compound, palmate, pinnate, bipinnate

b. Parts – Blade or lamina, petiole, stipules

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c. Outline – Acicular, linear, lanceolate, oblong elliptical, ovate

d. Apex- Acute ,acuminate , obtuse, truncate, retuse , marginated,

obcordate, mucronate,cupsidate, aristate, recurved, apiculate

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e. Base – Acute, acuminate, obtuse, cordate, reeniform, auriculate,
agitate, peltate, oblique or inequilateral, decurrent, hastate, truncate,
perfoliate

f. Margin – Entire, serrate, dentate, crenate, wavy, incised, lobed

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Learning Evaluation
1. What process is used to remove an excess of stems and other extraneous
matter from leaf drugs? Describe the process and when is it done.

2. How are leaf drugs packaged and stored for commerce?

3. What is a leaf bud? Give an official/unofficial example. Distinguish a terminal

from a lateral bud?

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C. Stem
1. Define the following:
a. Stem

b. Bark

c. Wood drugs

Learning Evaluation
1. When the term “bark” is used alone, which is referred to – stem or root bark?

2. Describe the following methods of collecting bark – coppicing , felling, and

uprooting.

3. What is garbling? How is this done and for what purpose?

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D. Flower, Fruits, Seeds
1. Define the following :
a. types of inflorescence – Spike, raceme, panicle, umbel, strobile

b. Reproductive structure – Flower, Fruit, Seed

c. Types of flowers and give example -Complete , perfect, imperfect,

hermaphrodite, regular, irregular

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d. Symmetry of flowers. Give example – Actinomorphic, Zygomorphic,
irregular

e. Draw and define parts of a flower – Pedicel, peduncle, receptacle ,

bracts, calys, sepals, corolla, petals, stamens, filament, anther, pollen,
ovary, ovule, style, stigma

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f. Insertion of flowers and fruits – superior, inferior

g. Types of compound fruits – aggregate, multiple

h. Groups of seeds- exalbuminous , albuminous

i.Draw and define parts of the seeds – kernel, seed coats

j. Seed coats – Testa, tegmen, Spermoderm , Aril, Arillode

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 k. External surface of seeds – Smooth, grooved, papillate, reticulate,
muricate, tuberculate, alveolate, pitted, hairy.

Learning Evaluation
1. Describe the ideal weather conditions for collecting flowers. Explain.

2. List the distinguish characteristics of the flowers and inflorescence of the

families POACEAE, MYRTACEAE, and LAMIACEAE

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3. Describe and illustrate the different plant parts that was assigned to you, and
identify such parts. ( Monograph type – descriptions should be n paragraph
according to the plant part you are describing )

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