A Textbook of Introduction to Pharmacognosy

A Textbook of Introduction to Pharmacognosy is a comprehensive and student-friendly resource developed for first-year B. Pharm. students in Semester I according to PCI regulations. It explains the history, scope and natural sources of drugs, classification of crude drugs, medicinal plant cultivation, collection, processing, storage and conservation. The book also covers herbal drug adulteration, standardisation, pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical parameters, bioassays and DNA barcoding. Detailed chapters introduce primary and secondary plant metabolites, biosynthetic pathways, traditional systems of medicine, AYUSH and TCM. Important phytotherapeutic agents are presented with their biological sources, constituents and therapeutic uses. Clear explanations, comparative tables, diagrams, summaries, MCQs and examination-oriented questions support effective learning and revision