Botanical Medicine Preparations

Question 1

What is the difference between a decoction and an infusion?

Answer 1

Infusion: Involves steeping soft parts of herbs (leaves, flowers) in boiled water fro 10-15 min covered

Decoction: involves simmering hard parts of herbs (bark, roots) in water for 10-15 min or longer

Question 2

What constituents are not suited for infusion or decoction?

Answer 2

Alkaloids
Resins
Lipids
Waxes
-Plants high in therapeutic volatile oils (cover the infusion to extract them, don’t overheat)

Question 3

What is the definition of a standardized extract?

Answer 3

Specific amounts of certain constituents are provided in an herbal preparation. Usually the final product is a whole herb extract with the specific constituents increased above their normal amounts.

Question 4

What is the advantage of a standardized extract?

Answer 4

It allows for accurate, reliable dosing and quality control

Question 5

What is the disadvantage of a standardized extract?

Answer 5

It involves a high level of processing and may remove other valuable constituents

Question 6

What is a tincture?

Answer 6

An extract of an herb in ethyl alcohol and water

Question 7

What are the usual proportions of solid part to solvent?

Answer 7

1:1 to 1:10

Question 8

Which plants are typically prepared with 1:10 ratio?

Answer 8

Toxic botanicals

Question 9

What is a fluid-extract?

Answer 9

Same as a tincture except it ins the proportions of 1:1 solid to solvent ration

Question 10

What is the final concentration of a solid extract?

Answer 10

4:1 meaning 4 parts of the original plant becomes 1 part of the final product

Question 11

Which constituents are hydrophilic?

Answer 11

Alkalooids ( form salts in acid pH)
Glycosides
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Minerals
Tannins
Vitamins
Saponins (also have lipophilic ends)
Plant acids

Question 12

Which constituents are lipophilic?

Answer 12

Alkaloids ( in alkaline pH)
Lipids
Terpenoids
Phenylpropanoids
Resins
Waxes
Saponins (also have hydrophilic ends)