Extraction by macerating crude drug in either cold or hot water for a short period of time is called which?

• A. Decoction
• B. Digestion
• C. Infusion
• D. Maceration

Answer: (C)

Infusion is about quickly drawing out soluble constituents by steeping plant material in hot water for a short time. This approach suits delicate parts like leaves or flowers, where brief contact with hot water extracts the desirable compounds without degrading them. The description mentions extraction in water for a short period, which fits the idea of a quick steep in hot water. Maceration, on the other hand, involves long soaking (often at room temperature) to soften and extract compounds; decoction uses boiling water for tougher materials like roots or bark; digestion implies a heated extraction but with different conditions. So the method described is infusion.