01234 - Pharmacognosy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Couse, 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.

The student also learns the principles of General Pharmacology through which he:

- knows the different mechanisms of actions of drugs (as pharmacologically active substances), the characteristics of the drug interaction with the biological structures responsibles for their therapeutic and toxic effects as well as the pharmacodynamic consequences of these interactions and the criteria for the response  quantification and analysis;

- is able to evaluate and to apply the pharmacokitics principles related to the drug administration, absorption, metabolism and elimination;

- is able to evaluate the consequences of possible interactions between different drugs and the individual variability of drug effects.

 

Course contents

The Course is made by two parts (modules):
General Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy I and Pharmacognosy II.

 

GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOGNOSY I

General Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics: routes of administration of drugs and their adsorption; drugs movement across biological membranes; bioavailability; drug distribution among body compartments, distribution volume, plasma protein binding; biotranformation; drug excretion; pattern of plasma concentrations (after single or repeated administration).

Pharmacodymamics: sites and mechanisms of acions of drugs; drug-receptor interactions and their cellular consequences; dose-response relationships; drugs acting as agonists, antagonists or partial agonists; factors modifying drug actions (e.g. age, pathologies, drug interactions, tolerance, placebo). Drug interactions. General Toxicity: adverse effects; overdose effects; idiosyncratic or allergic reactions; abuse liability. Preclinical and clinical drug evaluation. Pharmacovigilance and phitovigilance.

Pharmacognosy I
Definition and aim of Pharmacognosy; definition and classification of drug; factors affecting drug activity: natural, endogenous, exogenous and dependent on the preparation. Drug storage. Drug analysis.

 

PHARMACOGNOSY II

Identification, main characteristics, active principles, and officinal preparations of the following drugs:

Carbohydrate-containing drugs: Manna*, Starch, Althaea, Linseed*, Agar, Gum Arabic*, Tragacanth*, Cotton.
Lipid-containing drugs: Castor oil*, Cocoa butter.
Drugs containing resins or essential oils: 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.
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.

Drugs endowed with psychotomimetic activity.

*: to be identified by the student.

DRUGS FROM ANIMALS:  sera, vaccines.

Readings/Bibliography

Rossi F, Cuomo V, Riccardi C, "Farmacologia", Ed. Minerva Medica

Katzung BG, "Farmacologia Generale e clinica", Ed. Piccin, 2006

F. Clementi, G. Fumagalli, "Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare", UTET, 2012

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

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 both teaching module; . this examination verifies the achievement of the teaching goals. For the General Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy I module it is requested: the knowledge of the basic principle of “general Pharmacognosy” and, for “General Pharmacology” the knowledge of: mechanisms of drug actions, the features and the pharmacodynamic consequences of their interaction with the biological structures that are responsible of their therapeutic or toxic effects and their variability; the knowledge of pharmacokinetic processes that regulate the presence of the drug in the organism: from its entrance to its elimination.

As regard Pharmacognosy II module it is requested: the knowledge of morphology, source, content in active principles, therapeutic or non therapeutic uses. In particular, the identification of ad hoc prepared drugs, corresponding to those marked with an asterisk in the program.

The final score will derive from the evaluation of answers to four principal questions on arguments of different parts of the program. The oral exam will lasts approx 30-40 min. 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 subject.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Sanzio Candeletti

See the website of Lucia Carboni