Welcome to the Pharmacognosy section of our D Pharma Notes website – a dedicated learning hub for pharmacy students looking for easy-to-read, concept-based, chapterwise notes right in their browser.
Whether you’re preparing for your college exams or looking to strengthen your basics, our blog-style chapters are crafted to make learning simpler, faster, and more practical.
Pharmacognosy Syllabus — ER20 D.Pharma First Year
The complete Pharmacognosy syllabus for D.Pharma First Year under the ER20 scheme is divided into 11 chapters. Each chapter covers a distinct and important area of the subject.
Chapter-wise Notes
Chapter 1 — Definition, History & Scope of Pharmacognosy
This chapter introduces the subject from the ground up. You will learn what Pharmacognosy means, how it evolved from ancient civilisations — including Egyptian, Greek, and Indian traditions — all the way to modern pharmaceutical science. Key historical figures like Dioscorides, Galen, Charaka, and Susruta are covered. The scope section explains where Pharmacognosy fits in today’s world — from phytochemistry and herbal medicine to tissue culture and nutraceuticals.
👉 Read Chapter 1 — Definition, History & Scope
Chapter 2 — Classification of Drugs
Not all drugs are the same, and classifying them helps us study, identify, and use them correctly. This chapter covers all seven methods of drug classification — alphabetical, taxonomical, morphological, pharmacological, chemical, chemo-taxonomical, and serotaxonomical — with examples for each. A must-read chapter for understanding how the entire subject is organised.
👉 Read Chapter 2 — Classification of Drugs
Chapter 3 — Quality Control & Adulteration of Crude Drugs
This chapter deals with one of the most practically important topics in Pharmacognosy — how do we know if a drug is genuine or adulterated? You will learn the different methods of adulteration, how to detect them, and the five major evaluation techniques: physical, chemical, biological, morphological, and microscopic evaluation.
👉 Read Chapter 3 — Quality Control & Adulteration
Chapter 4 — Alkaloids, Glycosides, Volatile Oils, Tannins & Resins
This is the most content-heavy chapter in the syllabus and one of the most important for exams. It covers the five major groups of phytochemicals found in crude drugs — their definition, classification, isolation methods, identification tests, and therapeutic uses. Alkaloids like morphine and quinine, glycosides like digitalis and senna, and essential oils like clove and peppermint are all covered in detail.
👉 Read Chapter 4 — Alkaloids, Glycosides, Volatile Oils, Tannins & Resins
Chapter 5 — Crude Drugs: Uses, Properties & Applications
The largest and most diverse chapter in the syllabus. This chapter covers individual crude drugs across multiple therapeutic categories — laxatives, cardiotonics, carminatives, antihypertensives, antitussives, antirheumatics, antitumour drugs, antidiabetics, diuretics, antimalarials, oxytocics, vitamins, enzymes, pharmaceutical aids, antiseptics, and more. Each drug is covered with its biological source, family, chemical constituents, and uses.
👉 Read Chapter 5 — Crude Drugs: Uses, Properties & Applications
Chapter 6 — Plant Fibres Used as Surgical Dressings
This chapter covers the plant and animal fibres used in surgical and medical settings — absorbent cotton, silk, wool, and rayon — along with sutures, catgut, and ligatures. You will learn how each fibre is sourced, prepared, and used in wound care and surgery.
👉 Read Chapter 6 — Plant Fibres & Surgical Dressings
Chapter 7 — Traditional Systems of Medicine & Ayurvedic Formulations
India’s rich tradition of natural medicine is the focus of this chapter. It covers the four major traditional systems — Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy — their philosophies, diagnostic methods, and key drugs. The second half of the chapter explains how Ayurvedic formulations like Arista, Asava, Gutika, Taila, Churna, Lehya, and Bhasma are prepared and standardised.
👉 Read Chapter 7 — Traditional Systems of Medicine & Ayurvedic Formulations
Chapter 8 — Role of Medicinal Plants in the National Economy
This chapter looks at the bigger picture — how medicinal and aromatic plants contribute to India’s economy, rural employment, and export trade. It covers global usage statistics, India’s position as a major supplier of medicinal plants, government export policies, and the growing worldwide demand for herbal products.
👉 Read Chapter 8 — Medicinal Plants & National Economy
Chapter 9 — Herbs as Health Food: Nutraceuticals, Probiotics & Dietary Fibres
This is a modern and increasingly relevant chapter covering the overlap between food and medicine. Topics include nutraceuticals, antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics, dietary fibres, omega-3 fatty acids, spirulina, soya, and garlic — their sources, biological roles, and therapeutic applications in preventing chronic diseases.
👉 Read Chapter 9 — Nutraceuticals, Probiotics & Dietary Fibres
Chapter 10 — Herbal Cosmetics
This chapter covers six major plant-derived cosmetic agents — aloe vera gel, almond oil, lavender oil, olive oil, rosemary oil, and sandalwood oil. For each one you will learn the biological source, chemical constituents, therapeutic uses, cosmetic applications, and the commercial preparation process.
👉 Read Chapter 10 — Herbal Cosmetics
Chapter 11 — Phytochemical Evaluation of Drugs
The final chapter brings together the analytical side of Pharmacognosy. It covers the process of phytochemical screening — qualitative and quantitative tests used to confirm the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins in crude drug samples.
👉 Read Chapter 11 — Phytochemical Evaluation of Drugs
Important Topics for Exams
Based on the ER20 syllabus and previous exam patterns, these are the most frequently asked topics in Pharmacognosy:
- Definition and scope of Pharmacognosy
- Methods of drug classification with examples
- Methods of adulteration and evaluation of crude drugs
- Alkaloids — definition, classification, isolation, identification tests
- Glycosides — types and therapeutic uses
- Volatile oils — classification and identification
- Tannins and resins — classification and uses
- Individual crude drugs — biological source, constituents, uses
- Traditional systems — Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha
- Preparation of Ayurvedic formulations — Arista, Churna, Bhasma
- Nutraceuticals and probiotics
- Herbal cosmetics — aloe vera, sandalwood oil