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. The cell wall: primary and secondary wall. Polymeric components associated with the cell walls of specialized tissues. The vacuole and its roles in plant cells. Plant secondary metabolites. Plastids: proplastids, chloroplasts, leucoplasts, chromoplasts. 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. Morphological characteristics useful for the identification of medicinal plants: morphology of flower, leaf, fruit.

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

Plants as source of chemicals for semi-synthesis reactions. Use of plants for biotechnological applications.

Laxative and purgative plants: cascara buckthorn, alder buckthorn, rhubarb, senna, aloe, castor bean. Plants active on the CNS: valerian, California poppy, 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, climbing oleander, hawthorn, horse chestnut, sweet clover and warfarin. Plants with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity: opium poppy, devil's claw, autumn crocus, coca, hemp. Plants for the digestive system: nightshade, henbane, licorice, milk thistle. Antitumor plants: Indian and American mayapple, Madagascar periwinkle, Pacific yew. Plants for the immune system: echinacea, ginseng.

Readings/Bibliography

Plant Biology (Part 1)

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

 

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 performed using Power Point slides and projector. These slides will be avilable on the IOL platform.

The material contained in the slides is just a synthesis of the topics discussed in the classroom, and it should not be considered sufficient for a deep and complete learning of the subject. The slides must be integrated with the textbook recommended by the teacher.

Depending on the progress of the health emergency linked to COVID-19, the teaching methods may change, and lessons can be carried out online, through the TEAMS platform.

Assessment methods

Plant Biology- The assessment of learning takes place through the  final exam which consists of a written test with 33 multiple choice questions on all topics of the program.

Pharmaceutical Botany - The assessment of learning takes place through the final exam which consists of a written test and an oral discussion on medicinal plants.

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

The booking of the exam occurs through the platform Almaesami.

Depending on the progress of the health emergency linked to COVID-19, the way the exam is carried out may be different. Written exams will be delivered through the EOL (Online Exams) and Zoom platforms. In this case, the day before the exam the student will find the link to access the Zoom virtual classroom. By accessing EOL with their credentials, the student will have access to the written exam.

Teaching tools

The teaching material utilized during the frontal 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

See the website of Fabiana Antognoni