01234 - Pharmacognosy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course, the student:

- has the knowledge to perform the morphological identification of drug of natural origin, animal or vegetal and, in this last case, he also knows the habitat of plants;

- is able to identify the chemical structure of pharmacologically active substances contained in pharmacognosy drugs and, in addition, he knows their use in the therapeutic, technological or cosmetological fields.

Course contents

Definition and scope of Pharmacognosy; definition and classification of drugs. Variability in the activity of a drug: natural endogenous factors, exogenous and preparation-dependent. Conservation drugs. Drug analysis: identification, quality control.
Identification, main characteristics, active principles, and officinal preparations of the following drugs:
Carbohydrate-containing drugs: Manna*, Starch, Althaea*, Linseed*, Agar, Gum Arabic*, Tragacanth*, Cotton, Psyllium, Heparin, Dextran.
Lipid-containing drugs: Castor oil*, Cocoa butter.
Drugs containing resins or essential oils: Wormwood, Sweet wormwood, Chamomille*, Matricaria recutita, Cannabis, Camphor, Fish berries, Capsicum*, Eucaliptus leaf*, Male fern*, Clove*, Peppermint, Nutmeg, Valerian*.
Tannin-containing drugs: Hamamelis*.
Anthraquinone-containing drugs: Aloes*, Cascara bark*, Frangula bark*, Rhubarb*, Senna*, St. John's Wort.
Saponin-containing drugs: Liquorice*, Ginseng*.
Cardioactive glycoside-containing drugs: Digitalis leaf*, Strophantus*, Squill*.
Flavonoid-containing drugs: Ginkgo, Psoralens.
Alkaloid-containing drugs: Opium, Boldo*, Ipecacuanha*, Chincona bark*, Rauwolfia, Cocoa*, Coffee, Tea*, Tobacco, Ergot*, Nux Vomica*, Ephedra*, Jaborandi, Calabar bean, Belladonna*, Hyoscyamus, Jimson weed, Coca leaf, Curare, Vinca, Taxus.
Natural drugs endowed with psychotomimetic activity.
Natural drugs of animal origin.

*: to be identified by the student.

Readings/Bibliography

Biagi GL, Speroni E "Farmacognosia", Ed. Patron 2010.

Capasso F "Farmacognosia. Botanica, chimica e farmacologia delle piante medicinali", Ed. Springer 2011.

Teaching methods

Oral lessons. Practice sessions of macroscopic identification of drugs, marked with an asterisk in the program, are scheduled.

Assessment methods

The final test consists of an oral examination concerning aiming at verifying the achievement of the teaching goals. 
It is requested: the knowledge of morphology, source, content in active principles, therapeutic or non therapeutic use of drugs of natural origin. In particular, the identification of ad hoc prepared drugs, corresponding to those marked with an asterisk in the program.
The final score (xx/30) will take into account: the correctness of the given answers, the revealed comprehension of the arguments and the quality of the presentation, also with reference to the different parts of the program as well as to the previous knowledge that is necessary for the comprehension of this specific topic.

Teaching tools

Oral lessons will be given with the aid of multimedial tools (MS Power Point presentations, etc.).

Office hours

See the website of Carmela Fimognari