B2931 - Sources of Plant Metabolites and Traditional Medicine

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - acquires skills on the extraction and isolation of compounds useful in the phytopharmaceutical field; - possess the knowledge of modern techniques for the analysis and quality control of plant materials and their derivatives

Course contents

The course represents a deepening of the knowledge acquired through the course of Pharmaceutical Botany. The student acquires general botanical knowledge on the most important families of medicinal plants, used especially in the Mediterranean phytotherapeutic tradition. (S)He will also deepen the relationship between plant families and classes of special metabolites, their organ-specificity, biological activities, and uses in traditional medicine. He will also learn about the possible alternative sources of natural active ingredients from waste matrices important for circular economy. The student will know which are the most important systems of traditional medicine from which products of salutisctic interest have been developed and will have the basic knowledge on how to develop a qualitative and quantitative ethnobotanical study.

CONTENTS in detail:

Main families of medicinal plants with a specific focus on the Mediterranean tradition: Betulaceae, Composites, Cruciferae, Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Gramineae, Labiate, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Omelliferous, Papaveraceae, Pinaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Solancee, Vitacee

- habitat, botanical keys for recognition and main gebera

-classes of secondary metabolites specific to the various plant families

-relationship between organ/drug and classes of secondary metabolites

-uses of some plants of interest from each family both in the phytotherapeutic, cosmetic and nutraceutical fields

- biodiversity: endemisms, protected species, importance and challenges for scientific research in the field of natural products. -

redevelopment of vegetable waste matrices as sources of active ingredients and circular economy.

Ethnobotany and traditional medicines:

- what is ethnobotany, how to carry out a qualitative-quantitative ethnobotany study, how to create a database with ethnobotany data

-Plants and rituals in ethnobotany.

-Main systems of traditional medicine on the basis of which supplements and phytotherapeutic products sold in pharmacies are prepared.

Readings/Bibliography

F. POLI, a cura di, Biologia farmaceutica: biologia vegetale, botanica farmaceutica, fitochimica. 2019 PEARSON ITALIA, MILANO.

- Maugini E. et al. Botanica farmaceutica , Piccin editore, Padova,VIII edizione. 2006.

- Bruni A. , Nicoletti M. Dizionario ragionato di Erboristeria e Fitoterapia, Piccin editore, Padova, 2003.

- Bruni A. Farmacognosia generale ed applicata, Piccin editore Padova

Teaching methods

The courses will be carried out through lectures assisted by the projection of images and diagrams.

Assessment methods

The final exam of the course aims to evaluate the achievement of the teaching objectives and occurs through the preparation by the student of a paper (thesis) that illustrates the botanical and chemical-pharmaceutical aspects of a plant or botanical family. The final grade derives from the evaluation of the essay and is integrated with the result of the practical tests scheduled during the module 2 exercises. Students can book for the exam exclusively using the methods provided by the AlmaEsami online system. The exam sessions are proposed within the appropriate windows for ongoing students and exam sessions are scheduled throughout the academic year for non-course students, by agreement with the teachers, again via AlmaEsami.

Teaching tools

All the slides of the lessons, images of the monographs will be uploaded to the Virtual portal of UNIBO

Office hours

See the website of Manuela Mandrone