Sources of Drugs

Sources of drugs-

Plant originate from different natural sources and helps in development of herbal drug technology by providing treatment to various diseases. Sources of drug represents the area and environmental conditions that favours plant growth and its phytoconstituents development.

There are many sources from where drug is obtained are-

1.Biological source

2.Marine sources

3.Mineral sources

4.Plant tissue culture sources

1.Biological sources:-the biological and geographically sources of many traditionally remedies has been researched. Geographical source represents the drug obtained from plant kingdom while biological source represents the drug obtained from biological system (microorganisms and land animals)

Eg- Digitalis (digitoxin)-cardiac compound
Vinca(vincrystine,vinblastine)-Anticancer compound
Rauwolfia (reserprine)-resporatory stimulant
Cinchona (quinine)- anti-malarial
Pencillinamine notatum- (pencillin antibiotic)
Fungi (Antibiotics)
Land animals provide-wool,bees-wax,fats.

2.Marine sources:- the herbal drug or compound obtained from sea comes under marine source. There are many useful compound have been derived which had a great potiential in treatment of various diseases and it has raise the herbal drug research to a new height.

Eg- Sources Compound

Sponge tethya crypta ARA-A (antiviral compound)
Eudistoma olivaceum Eudistomins (antiviral compound)
Disidia avara varol and avarone (antiviral compound)
D.auricularia Auripyrone-A and B (anticancer compound)
Niphates species Niphastesine alkaloid
(anticancer compound)
Cephalosporium acremonium Cephalosporin C (anti-microbial)

3.Mineral sources:- The mineral are source of drugs which can be beneficial for the human health and in treatment of diseases. These are obtained from earth. Minerals which are having beneficial effect are listed below



S.NO Minerals Sources Function

1. Calcium Dairy products,dark leafy green vegitables,orange
and soy milk.Gives strength to teeth and bone.

2. Chromium Some cereal grains,beef,turkey fish,beer and grape
juice.Help maintain normal blood sugar level.

3. Iron Leafy green vegetables,beans,meat,eggs and soy foods.
Transportation of oxyzen to the body.

4. Magnesium Grains products,leafy green vegetables,brazil nuts and
banana.Helps muscle and nerve functions and
maintain bone strength.

5. Molybdenum Legumes, grain products and nuts.Play role in proteins
processing.

6. Phosphorus Dairy products,beef,chicken,eggs and wheat breads.
Help cell function and deliver oxyzen to red blood cell.

7. Potassium Potato,orange juice and leafy green vegetables. Helps in
muscle and nervous system.


4.Plant tissue culture

Plant tissue culture is a practice used to propagate plants under sterile conditions, often to produce clones of a plant. Different techniques in plant tissue culture may offer certain advantages over traditional methods of propagation, including:

1.The production of exact copies of plants that produce particularly good flowers, fruits, or have other desirable traits.

2.To quickly produce mature plants.

3.The production of multiples of plants in the absence of seeds or necessary pollinators to produce seeds.

4.The regeneration of whole plants from plant cells that have been genetically modified.

5.The production of plants in sterile containers that allows them to be moved with greatly reduced chances of transmitting diseases, pests, and pathogens.

6.The production of plants from seeds that otherwise have very low chances of germinating and growing, i.e.: orchids and nepenthes.

7.To clean particular plant of viral and other infections and to quickly multiply these plants as 'cleaned stock' for horticulture and agriculture.


Plant tissue culture relies on the fact that many plant cells have the ability to regenerate a whole plant (totipotency). Single cells, plant cells without cell walls (protoplasts), pieces of leaves, or (less commonly) roots can often be used to generate a new plant on culture media given the required nutrients and plant hormones.

Advantages of Tissue Culture Planting Materials

1.True to the type of mother plant under well management.

2.Pest and disease free seedlings.

3.Uniform growth, increases yield.

4.Early maturity of crop - maximum land use is possible in low land holding country
like India.

5.Round the year planting possible as seedlings are made available throughout the
year.

6.No staggered harvesting.

7.New varieties can be introduced and multiplied in a short duration