Question

Digitalis leaves should be collected during which season?

• A. Before flowering stage
• B. During flowering stage
• C. After flowering stage
• D. During fruiting stage

Hint:

Crude drugs should be collected at the stage when their active constituents are maximum.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
The time of collection of crude drugs is very important because active constituents vary with season and stage of plant growth.

Step 1: Understanding digitalis.
Digitalis leaves contain cardiac glycosides. These glycosides are responsible for the medicinal activity of digitalis.

Step 2: Best collection stage.
Digitalis leaves are collected during the flowering stage because the active constituent content is suitable at this stage.

Step 3: Why timing matters.
If leaves are collected too early or too late, the concentration of active glycosides may be lower, affecting drug quality.

Step 4: Checking other options.
Before flowering, after flowering, or fruiting stage are not the correct collection stages according to the given paper.

Step 5: Final answer.
Therefore, digitalis leaves should be collected during flowering stage. \[ \boxed{\text{During flowering stage}} \]