Storage of Unani Drugs

 

 Collected crude drugs must be free from all types of impurities, such as foreign materials, animal excreta, insects, fungus, or any substances other than the drug. The optimum environmental condition should be maintained during the storage and transportation of a drug to avoid any damage or loss of properties. Appropriate conditions of light, humidity, ventilation, temperature, and security should be ensured.  Extreme conditions of temperature fluctuations and humidity may result in harmful toxic degradation that can be difficult to detect. Any change in the normal physical property of a drug, like a change in color, odor, etc is an indication of abnormality. Drugs must be prevented from petrification, decomposition, fermentation, or any unusual changes. There are specific guidelines for handling specific drugs that should be followed. Factors considered for proper storage are Sanitation, Temperature, Light, Moisture, Ventilation, and Segregation. Storage areas should be designed or adapted to ensure good storage conditions and protection from harmful pests and insects. A Few general guidelines are mentioned below.

1.     Appropriate temperature, moisture, light, and air should be maimed for a particular drug.

2.     Volatile drugs should be stored in an airtight container at the appropriate environmental condition to avoid any loss.

3.     Dust and contamination: Drugs should be protected from the mixing of any impurities.

4.     Different drugs must be stored in separate containers.

5.     Compound drugs like pills, tablets, and powders, that do not contain salts may be stored in the lead-coated vessel.

6.     Preservation: some biological drugs are preserved by special methods or by adding some natural preservative. Like, some are preserved in sugar solution or honey, for a longer period. Like murabbajat, Ruub, etc. Animal drugs like brains, gallbladders, and other parts of the body are preserved in honey.

7.     Temperature: To maintain the stability and potency of a drug it must store at an appropriate temperature that is different for different drugs. Based on the required storage temperature, the drug storage environment can be divided into the following category.

Cold: Temperature between 2°C to 8°C. A refrigerator is a cold place in which the temperature is maintained thermostatically between 2°C to 8°C.

Cool: Temperature between 8°C and 15°C.

Room Temperature: The temperature prevailing in a working area. Usually 20° to 25°C.

Warm: Temperature between 30°C and 40°C.

Excessive Heat: Temperature above 40°C.

 

 

 

Drug Shortage: A drug shortage means a period when the demand or projected demand for a drug within a specified geographical area exceeds the supply of the drug.