FIBRES AND SURGICAL MATERIALS IN PHARMACOGNOSY
Plant and animal fibres are widely used in pharmacy and surgery because of their absorbency, softness, purity and biocompatibility. In pharmacognosy, cotton, silk, wool and regenerated fibres play an important role in surgical dressings, while surgical catgut and ligatures are widely used as suturing materials.
Cotton
Biological Source: Hairs of Gossypium species.
Constituents: Cellulose (~95%).
Characteristics: Soft, absorbent, non-irritant.
Uses
- Absorbent cotton and bandages
- Wound cleaning
- Orthopedic padding
Silk
Source: Cocoon of Bombyx mori.
Constituents: Fibroin, sericin.
Characteristics: Strong, smooth, flexible.
Uses
- Non-absorbable sutures
- Ophthalmic and dental surgery
- Excellent knot strength
Wool
Source: Sheep (Ovis aries).
Constituents: Keratin.
Characteristics: Elastic, moisture-absorbing.
Uses
- Medicated wool pads
- Cushioning material
- Prevents skin friction
Regenerated Fibres
Examples: Rayon, viscose.
Source: Processed cellulose.
Characteristics: Smooth, uniform, absorbent.
Uses
- Surgical dressings
- Sanitary products
- Cost-effective alternative
Surgical Catgut
Source: Intestine of sheep/goat.
Nature: Absorbable.
Constituent: Collagen.
Types
- Plain catgut – fast absorption
- Chromic catgut – slow absorption
Uses
- Internal sutures
- Gynecology and GI surgery
- Dissolvable stitches
Ligatures
Ligatures are materials used to tie blood vessels and control bleeding during surgery.
Materials Used
- Silk
- Catgut
- Cotton
- Nylon, polyester
Functions
- Stops bleeding
- Holds tissues during surgery
Dr. Saint Paul is a pharmacy educator, Pharm.D graduate, and academic content creator from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree between 2015 and 2021.
He has more than 7 years of experience creating pharmacy educational content, writing study materials, and reviewing academic articles for pharmacy students. He has also contributed guest articles to pharmacy education platforms, including PharmD Guru.
At D.PharmGuru, his work focuses on simplifying complex Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharmacy) subjects into easy-to-understand notes, practical explanations, and exam-oriented educational resources for students across India.
His areas of focus include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, and other core D.Pharmacy subjects.
