91017 - Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - possesses scientific knowledge that allows him to carry out the morphological identification of drugs, to recognize their animal or vegetable origin and, in the latter case, preparation and habitat; - is able to recognize the chemical structures that represent their active principles of which he knows the application in the pharmacological / therapeutic field or in the technological or cosmetics ones; - is able to evaluate the use of herbal preparations.

Course contents

Pharmacognosy definitions. Morphology, phytochemistry, pharmacological efficacy, safety, and pharmacological interactions of crude drugs. Phytotherapy preparations. Harvesting and conservation of medicinal plants. Factors influencing the nature and quantity of active constituents in crude drugs. Quality control of plant material.

Identification, main characteristics, active constituents, and therapeutic efficacy of crude drugs containing carbohydrates; lipids; phenolic, tannin, anthraquinone, saponin, cardioactive, cyanogenetic, anthocyanin, flavonoid glycosides; coumarins; glucosinolates. Crude drugs containing terpene and terpenoid derivatives: volatile oils, resins, balsams. Crude drugs containing alkaloids.

Phytotherapy definitions. Polyvalent action. Phytotherapy treatments of the gastrointestinal and biliary system; the cardiovascular system; the respiratory system; the central nervous system; the endocrine system, the eye, ear, nose, throat, and skin. Weight management. Adaptogen phytotherapy.

Readings/Bibliography

Heinrich, Barnes, Prieto-Garcia, Gibbons, Williamson «Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy» Elsevier, 2018

Evans «Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy 16th Edition» Saunders Ltd., 2009

Teaching methods

The course is delivered by oral teaching (48 hours).

Assessment methods

Students will receive marks after an oral examination on Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy programmes.

In order to take the examination, the student must have attended at least 70% of the lectures. Students are reminded to check the prerequisites listed in the course structure diagram.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the responsible office (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

Teaching tools are available on Virtuale web site. Samples of crude drugs from medicinal plants will be displayed during the course.

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Carboni

See the website of Laura Rullo