90919 - Plant Biology, Pharmaceutical Botany

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is: - to acquire basic knowledges of plant biology; main topics are the organization and functions of the plant cell, tissues and organs of higher plants; - to provide knowledges useful to recognize the most used medicinal plants, in particular those of pharmaceutical, herbalistic, cosmetic and voluptuary use. The student attending this course learns how the production of active compounds by the plant can be affected by several factors.

Course contents

Plant Biology ( Part 1)

Plant organisms: the utility of plants for humans. Main differences between animal and plant organisms.

The plant cell structure. Cell wall, vacuoles, and plastids: structure and functions of the typical compartments of the eukariotic plant cell.  Primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Photosynthesis at a glance. The light phase and the dark phase of photosynthesis.

Plant tissues: growth and differentiation of the plant cell. Tissues of vascular terrestrial plants: meristematic tissues and adult tissues. Tegumental, parenchymatic, mechanical, secretory, transport tissues.

Organs of vascular terrestrial plants: root, stem and leaf, their morphology and functions. Primary and secondary structure of the plant. Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons. Agamic and sexual reproduction. The life cycle of Angiosperms.

Pharmaceutical Botany (Part 2)

Historical overview of Pharmaceutical Botany. Medicinal plants as a source of chemical compounds of medicinal interest. Definition and scope of pharmaceutical botany. The concept of natural crude drugs. Secondary metabolites as active components of medicinal plants. Endogenous and exogenous factors which affect their production in plants. Plants as source of chemicals for semi-synthesis reactions. Use of plants for biotechnological applications. Diversity and plant systematics; the classification of the plant kingdom. The Binomial Nomenclature.

Algae of medicinal interest: Rhodophyta, Pheophyta, Chlorophyta, their active compounds and practical uses.

Morphological characteristics useful for the identification of medicinal plants: leaf, flower and inflorescences, fruit.

Laxative and purgative plants: cascara buckthorn, alder buckthorn, senna, aloe, plantago. Plants active on the CNS: valerian, lemon balm, passionflower, St. John's wort, rauwolfia, coffee, ginkgo biloba, Calabar bean. Plants active on the heart and circulatory system: purpe and woolly foxglove, hawthorn. Plants with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity: opium poppy, devil's claw, coca, hemp. Plants for the digestive system: nightshade, licorice, milk thistle. Anticancer plants: Indian and American mayapple, Madagascar periwinkle, Pacific yew.

Readings/Bibliography

Plant Biology (Part 1)

J.D. Mauseth - Botany-An Introduction to Plant Biology - Jones and Bartlett Publishers

Chapter 1 -Plants and people Box 1, Box 3

Chapter 2 - Table 2.5

Chapter 3 - Cell Structure

Chapter 4 - Growth and Division of the Cell

Chapter 5 -Tissues and the primary growth of stems

Chapter 6 - Leaves

Chapter 7 - Roots

Chapter 8 - Structure of woody plants

Chapter 9 - Plant Reproduction

Any other textbooks of Plant Biology or General Botany are fine.

Pharmaceutical Botany (Part 2)

Slides used for lessons, to be integrated with the following textbooks:

For the general part of the program:

J.D. Mauseth - Botany-An Introduction to Plant Biology - Jones and Bartlett Publishers

For plant monographies:

Plants that Cure - E.A. Dauncey and M-J. R. Howes - Princeton Press

Teaching methods

Front lessons will be organized using Power Point slides. These slides will be available to students on the Virtuale platform before each lesson.

The topics presented into the slides represents just a synthesis of the topics discussed in the classroom, and it should be considered not exaustive for a deep and complete learning of the subject. Therefore, slides must be integrated with the textbooks recommended by the teacher.

In order to take the examination, students must have attended at least 70% of the frontal lectures. Students are reminded to check the prerequisites listed in the course structure diagram to be aware about the propedeuticity of the courses.

Assessment methods

Plant Biology (module 1):

The assessment of the acquired knowledge occurs through a final exam, which consists of a written test with 30 Multiple Choice Questions covering all topics of the program.

The booking of the exam occurs through the platform Almaesami.

The written exam will take place at the informatic laboratories of the Rimini campus. The use of AI tools during the exam is prohibited in any form. Any use, even minimal, of such tools constitutes a violation of academic integrity. In the event of unlawful behaviour by the student, the learning assessment will take place orally at the next session.

According to The University Teaching Regulations, students are allowed to refuse a positive grade once.

The score of part 1 is kept valid for 12 months. Within this time period, the student should pass the part 2 to complete the exam. The final score is calculated as the arythmetic mean of the two single exams, rounded up.

Pharmaceutical Botany  (module 2):

Learning is assessed solely through the final exam, which consists of a written test with 15 multiple-choice questions and 3 open-ended questions, in the form of an essay focusing on the identification and description of medicinal plants.

The booking of the exam occurs through the platform Almaesami.

The written exam will take place at the informatic laboratories of the Rimini campus. The use of AI tools during the exam is prohibited in any form. Any use, even minimal, of such tools constitutes a violation of academic integrity. In the event of unlawful behaviour by the student, the learning assessment will take place orally at the next session.

According to The University Teaching Regulations, students are allowed to refuse a positive grade once.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The teaching material utilized during the front lessons (slides) is available to students on the Platform IOL. However, this material alone is not enough for a deep and complete learning of the subject and must be integrated with the textbook suggested by the teacher.

Office hours: The Teacher is available to meet with students on class days, either at the Rimini campus where classes are held or in her office.

Office hours

See the website of Fabiana Antognoni