Ajzaay-e-Tarkeebiya / Constituents of drugs

 

Constituents (Ajzaay-e-Tarkeebiya) of drugs

Every living organism is made up of several organic and inorganic components, that have their own physical and chemical properties.  Hence almost all drugs of plant and animal origin (Nabati wo Haywani) are basically of composite composition (Murakkab-ul-Qua). Based on medicinal use, Unani scholars have divided the constituents of plants and animal drugs into the following types.

Components of plants and animal drugs:

1.      Carbohydrates (shakariyat): These are the sweet components of plant and animal-origin (Nabati wo Haywani) drugs.

2.      Proteins (lehmiyat): These are complex organic components found in both Nabati wo Haywani advia.

3.      Fats (shehmiyat): The oils and fats of plant and animal drugs are categorized in this group. Various types of fat-soluble constituents are also found in it. For example Roghan-e-bedanjeer, ghee, fish oil, etc.

4.      Salt (namkiyat): These are the salty components of drugs. traditionally this is obtained by ashes of burned parts of plants or animals. Eg. - Namak-e-turb.

5.      Pigments (launiya): Plants animals and microorganisms are sources of natural pigments. Madder, Myrobalan, Pomegranate, Turmeric,  Kachnar,  Tun,  Dhao,  Indigo,  Henna,  Catechu, Saffron, and  Patang are an example of natural pigments.

6.      Resins (Ra’al): It is viscous liquid exudates of injured bark of plants, soluble in various organic liquids but insoluble in water.

7.      Latexes (simaghiyat): It is water soluble, milky exudates of flowering plants and some fungi. It coagulates on exposure to air. Eg. - Simagh-e-arabi, simagh-e-kateera.

8.      Acids Components (Tursh mawad): These are the compounds containing organic acids. the organic acid compounds of fruits and vegetables are of medicinal use.  Eg. Aloo Bukhara, (Malic, quinic, a­ketoglutaric, oxalacetic, citric, pyruvic, fumaric, lactic, succinic, Tartaric, Isocitric acids are the example of organic acids).

9.      Alkali Components (Ajzae Booraqiya): This component is usually found in nabati advia. Ex- Nazroon.

10.  Fermenting compounds (Ajzaay-e-khameer): These are the fermentation-causing components of drugs.

11.  Wood components (Ajzaay-e-khashbiya): These are the woody substance that is found in the stem and root of the plant. Ex:- Buraada-e-sandal, Burrada-e-aabnoos.

12.  Alkaloids (jauhar-e-fa’al): Alkaloids are active components of nabati advia that are the active principle of drugs. Ex- Jauhar-e-afyun, sath-e-pudina, sath-e-kafoor.