CHEMICAL TEST FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNORGANIZED DRUGS

CHEMICAL TEST FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF UNORGANIZED DRUGS

Chemical test for  Acacia =Indian gum

Organoleptic test:

Appearance: Crystalline                                                          agar, acacia

Colour: Pale yellow                                                                 acacia

Odour: Odourless                                                                   acacia

Taste: Bland and mucilaginous                                               acacia

Solubility: Soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol                    acacia

Chemical test:

Prepare a solution of acacia by adding 10ml of water to 0.5gm of acacia, stirring well.

Use this solution for following test.

SI.No.	Test	Observation	Inference
1.	Solubility	Soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol	Gum acacia present
2.	To 2ml solution add 50mg of borax, boil and cool	Stiff translucent mass is formed	Acacia present
3.	To the aqueous solution add few drops of dilute solution of lead sub acetate	White precipitate is formed	Gum acacia present
4.	Differenciating test from Guar Gum: Gum acacia solution + 0.5ml hydrogen peroxide solution, shake vigrously.	Blue colour is produced	Presence of oxidase enzyme in acacia
5.	To 1ml of solution add 4ml water and few drops of conc.HCl, boil over water bath for few minutes cool and add NaOH to neutralize excess acid, add Fehling’s solution A and B(Mixed together before adding) in equal quantities and warm.	Formation of  brick red precipitate	Reducing sugars are present
6.	Differentiating test from Agar and Isapgol: Gum acacia + Ruthenium red solution	No pink colour	Gum acacia
7.	Gum acacia solution + dil HCl boil for few minutes + few drops of Barium chloride solution	No white precipitate of barium sulphate.	Gum acacia present
8.	5ml aqueous solution of acacia add 0.5ml of hydrogen peroxide (10%) and 0.5ml of 1% solution of benzidine in (90%) alcohol, shake and allow to stand	Formation of blue colour	Presence of peroxidase enzyme in acacia

                        Test for Purity:

SI.No.	Test	Observation	Inference
1.	1ml of gum + 10ml of water on standing for few hours	No sedementation of particles	Pure acacia
2.	1ml of gum + 4ml of water + lead acetate solution	No precipitate	Pure acacia