C9673 - ELEMENTI DI BOTANICA FARMACEUTICA

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will acquire the fundamental knowledge of plant biology, with particular emphasis on plant metabolism and the mechanisms regulating the production of specialized metabolites in response to endogenous signals and environmental factors.

Students will develop the knowledge and skills required for the botanical identification of plants, including the correct use of botanical terminology to describe roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, with particular attention to the main diagnostic features used in plant identification.

Students will also gain the ability to relate major plant families to the principal classes of specialized metabolites, understanding their organ-specific distribution and selected biological activities.

In addition, students will become familiar with the most important medicinal, officinal, and aromatic plants and will be able to recognize species of particular relevance for herbal, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and recreational uses.

Course contents

The course provides the fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Botany, with particular emphasis on plant species of relevance to natural products chemistry. It covers the main aspects of pharmaceutical botany, focusing on plant exudates, primary and specialized metabolism, and the mechanisms regulating the production of bioactive compounds in response to endogenous and environmental factors.

The course also introduces the fundamental concepts of plant morphology and botanical terminology required for the identification of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds, highlighting the main diagnostic features used for plant identification.

Particular attention is devoted to the major plant families of pharmaceutical, herbal, and cosmetic interest, relating their morphological characteristics to the principal classes of specialized metabolites (including alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, saponins, and others), their organ-specific distribution, and their biological activities.

Finally, the course presents selected medicinal, officinal, and aromatic plants of major importance, with particular reference to their pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and recreational uses.

Readings/Bibliography

The course bibliography will consist primarily of scientific articles that will be indicated during the lectures and referenced in the course slides.

All lecture slides will be made available to students to support their learning and independent study.

For further reading, the following textbooks are recommended:

 

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

Lectures supported by PowerPoint slide presentations.

Assessment methods

Student assessment is based on the preparation of an individual written report on a medicinal plant selected from a list provided by the instructor.

The report should describe the botanical, taxonomic, and phytochemical characteristics of the selected species, with particular emphasis on its major specialized metabolites, their distribution within plant organs, and the main pharmaceutical, herbal, nutraceutical, or cosmetic applications, supported by appropriate scientific literature.

The final grade (out of 30) will be based on the following criteria:

• accuracy and completeness of botanical and phytochemical knowledge (30%);
• ability to relate botanical classification to specialized metabolites and their biological activities (30%);
• appropriate use of scientific terminology and clarity of presentation (20%);
• ability to identify, critically evaluate, and appropriately use scientific literature (20%).

These assessment criteria are consistent with the learning outcomes of the course, as they evaluate students' understanding of pharmaceutical botany, their ability to recognize medicinal plants, and their capacity to relate botanical characteristics to the occurrence and biological significance of specialized metabolites.

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) 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.

Students recognized as “working students”
Please consult the dedicated website (https://www.unibo.it/en/study/guide-to-choosing-your-programme/balancing-study-and-work) to apply for this status and to learn about the available measures.

Use of AI: With regard to assessment, a limited, declared, and non-substantive use of AI is permitted for support activities (e.g., summarization and rephrasing). The substantial use of AI to complete any part of the assessment is not permitted.

Teaching tools

On the virtual platform, all slides will be provided to the students together with the scientific articles of main interest for the study.

Office hours

See the website of Manuela Mandrone