31578 - Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy

Learning outcomes

Students will learn how to describe crude drugs from plants, their origin, the content in active principles, pharmacological activities and uses. During the laboratory course, students will learn how to identify and describe medicinal plants. Plant drugs will be also analysed by the aid of optical microscopy. Specific chemical identification reactions will be carried out for the different classes of constituents.

Course contents

Unit 1: Pharmacognosy

Definition of pharmacognosy; general concepts to study crude drugs obtained from medicinal plants with respect to morphology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology. Harvesting and conservation of medicinal plants. Quality controls of plant material. Sample identification, macroscopical and microscopical characters.

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.

Unit 2: Phytotherapy

Introduction to phytotherapy: definitions and fundamental concepts.

History, development and current perspectives of phytotherapy.

Safety of phytotherapy: quality, adverse effects, contraindications and herb–drug interactions.

Phytotherapy for disorders of the central nervous system: anxiety, insomnia and depression.

Phytotherapy for disorders of the gastrointestinal system: oral inflammation, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastritis and peptic ulcer, nausea and vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea.

Phytotherapy for disorders of the respiratory system: bronchitis, cough, rhinitis, common cold and influenza.

Phytotherapy for disorders of the cardiovascular system: hypertension, chronic venous insufficiency and haemorrhoidal disease.

Phytotherapy for disorders of the urinary system: urinary tract infections, medicinal plants with diuretic activity and urinary stone disease.

Unit 3: Laboratory

Evaluation of foreign matter; weight loss at drying.

Carbohydrate-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Agar, Burdock, Marshmallow, Fucus, Starch, Tragacant, Gum, Couch-grass, Guar gum, Laminaria, Linseed, Iceland moss, Marshmallow, Corn, Manna, Psyllium, Rice, Linden flower. Swell index; chemical identifications of Starch and Tragacant.

Alkaloid-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Aconite, Belladonna, Fumitory, Hyoscyamus, Guarana, Hydrastis, Nux vomica, Stramonium, Chincona bark, Ipecacuanha, Boldo, Kola nut. Chemical identifications of Chincona bark and Boldo.

Anthraquinone-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Aloes, Cascara bark, Frangula bark, Rhubarb, St. John’s wort, Senna. Chemical identifications of Aloes, Rhubarb, Senna.

Tannin-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Hamamelis, Hawthorn, Lady’s mantle, Cherry pedicel, Heath, Strawberry, Karkadè, Rhatany root, Rose fruit, Willow bark, Hydrocotyle, Bearberry leaves. Chemical identifications of Hamamelis, Bearberry leaves.

Flavonoid-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Mugwort, Devil's claw, Marigold, Artichoke, Centaury, Chrysanthellum, Coneflower, Gentian, Ginkgo (Maidenhair tree), Aesculus, Hyssop, Pomegranate, Lingonberry, Passionflower, Elder flower, Tea, Europaen vervain, Rhodiola, Meadowsweet, Vine. Chemical identifications of Tea, Hibiscus Tea, Red orange.

Cardioactive glycoside-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Spring adonis, Foxgloves, Squill, Rose laurel (Oleander). Chemical identifications of Oleander.

Saponin-containing drugs: microscopic and macroscopic identification Siberian ginseng, Fenugreek, Ginseng, Restharrow, Liquorice root, Senega. Chemical identifications of Liquorice root and Senega.

Drugs containing volatile oils: microscopic and macroscopic identification of Yarrow, Dill, Angelica, Star anise, Aniseed, Bitter orange peel, Orange flower, Arnica, Wormwood, Calamus, Matricaria, Chamomille, Cinnamom, Capsicum, Cardamom, Colophony, Holy thistle, Calumba, Condurango, Coriander, Caraway, Cumin, Turmeric, Damiana, Fennel, Eucalyptus, Male fern, Clove, Juniper, Frankincense, Lavender, Hop, Melissa, Peppermint, Myrrh, Pepper, Pine, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Valerian. Essential oils.

Readings/Bibliography

G. Mazzanti, M. Dell'Agli, A.A. Izzo, Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia, Piccin

G. Sacchetti, Botanica Farmaceutica e farmacognosia, UTET

F. Poli, Biologia Farmaceutica 2 edizione, Pearson Italia

M. Heinrich, J. Barnes, S. Gibbons, E. M. Wiliamson, Fondamenti di farmacognosia e fitoterapia, Edra

G.L. Biagi –E. Speroni, Farmacognosia, Patron Editore

Teaching methods

Unit 1 and unit 2 are delivered as oral teaching (64 hours); unit 3 is a laboratory course (36 hours). Attendance to 80% hours of the laboratory unit is mandatory.

All students (including all the international incoming exchange students, i.e. ERASMUS) must attend Module 1, 2 online:

https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio

while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme ("studiare"--"formazione obbligatoria su sicurezza e salute")

Assessment methods

Students will receive a final mark. Students are evaluated in a test aimed at recognizing the drugs examined during the laboratory course; students are also required to submit a report describing the activities carried out during the laboratory course. These activities will contribute to the final mark. Students are evaluated in an oral examination on Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy programmes. 

For the Phytotherapy module, students' knowledge of the principles of phytotherapy, the therapeutic use of the main medicinal plants, their indications, evidence of efficacy, and safety aspects, including contraindications and potential herb–drug interactions, will be assessed.

Assessment for Module 2 consists of the presentation and discussion, during the last class of the module, of an individual written assignment on a topic agreed upon with the lecturer, together with an oral examination to be taken during one of the official examination sessions. The written assignment constitutes an integral part of the module assessment.

The final evaluation will take into account both the student's performance in the oral examination and the quality of the written assignment and its discussion, with particular emphasis on the accuracy of knowledge, the ability to integrate and relate the topics covered, the appropriate use of scientific terminology, and clarity of presentation.

The use of AI is prohibited during the assessment of learning. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

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.

Medicinal plants are available during the laboratory course.

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Carboni

See the website of Monia Lenzi

See the website of Donatella Canistro