Question

Determination of percentage of acid insoluble ash of herbal drugs is useful for testing the presence of ______

• A. \( \text{Other parts of the plant} \)
• B. \( \text{Siliceous earth} \)
• C. \( \text{Active constituents of the drugs} \)
• D. \( \text{Moisture content} \)

Hint:

Acid-insoluble ash mainly consists of silica. This test helps in identifying adulteration with inorganic matter like sand or soil.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The determination of the percentage of acid-insoluble ash in herbal drugs is a crucial quality control test. A high percentage of acid-insoluble ash typically indicates the presence of siliceous matter, such as sand and soil, which are impurities and should be minimized in herbal drug formulations. These impurities are insoluble in dilute acids.