84887 - Plant Biology, Pharmaceutical Botany

Course contents

Plant Biology , 4CFU (32 hours). Prof. Manuela Mandrone

Introduction. Human and environment systems: ecological, economic and social issues.

The plant cell. Cell wall: biosynthesis, structure and function. Cell membranes: structure and function. Cell organelles: mitochondria, plastids, vacuoles. Chloroplast: structural and functional aspects. Cell division.

Plant tissues. Apical and secondary meristems. Cell growth and differentiation. Parenchyma, epidermal tissues, vascular tissues and secretory tissues.

Plant structure and function. Root, stem and leaf systems: morphology, anatomy, function and development. Sexual and asexual plant reproduction. Flower, fruit and seed: development, morphology and anatomy. The life cycle of the Angiosperm.

Pharmaceutical Botany, 5CFU (40 hours) Prof. Ferruccio Poli

Pharmaceutical Botany's definition and objets. Historical development of medical plant's use.

Differences between plants and animals.

The plant's usefulness to human being. Plants as a source of substances of pharmaceutical interest.

Endogenous and enviromental factors having an influence upon the production of active priciples in medical plants.

Plant constituents usable in pharmacology (Alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, phenylpropanoids , anthraquinones, flavonoids tannins

terpenoids )

Plants and spices usable principally in Herbalist, homeopathy and to produce food integrators.

Plants and spices usable principally in pharmacology Plants and spices to regard to pharmaco-tecnique.

Poisonous and toxic plants.

Plants and spices registred in the Official Italian Pharmacopeia (F.U.I.)

Plants of the course

latin name, english name, italian name

Aconitum napellus L. Aconitum Aconito
Allium sativum L. Garlic Aglio
Rodophyta (Gigartina sp, Gracilaria sp, Euchema sp) Carrageenan Alghe rosse
Pheophyta (Fucus sp, Laminaria sp., Sargassum sp) Sea-oak, Kelp, Algin, Alghe brune
Aloe barbadensis Miller Aloe vera Aloe vera
Aloe ferox Miller True Aloe Aloe africana
Althaea officinalis L. Althea Altea
Hamamelis virginiana L. Hamamelis Amamelide
Angelica archangelica L. Angelica Angelica
Pimpinella anisum L. Aniseed Anice verde
Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Bitter Orange Arancio amaro
Arnica montana L. Arnica Arnica
Harpagophytum procumbens DC. Devil's Claw Arpagofito
Artemisia absinthium L. Absinthium Assenzio
Myroxylon balsamum (L.) Harms Balsam Tolu Tree Balsamo del Tolù
Myroxylon pereirae Kleyer Balsam Peru Tree Balsamo del Perù
Actium lappa L. Bardana Bardana L.
Atropa belladonna Belladonna Belladonna
Betula alba L. Birch Betulla
Crataegus monogynaJacquin Crataegus Biancospino
Citrus aurantiumL. var. bergamia Bergamot Bergamotto
Bixa orellana L. Annatto Annatto
Peumus boldus Molina Boldo Boldo
Theobroma cacao L. Cocoa Cacao
Coffea arabica L. Coffee Caffè
Acorus calamusL. Calamus Calamo
Calendula officinalis L. Calendula Calendula
Chamomilla recutita (L.) Räuschel Chamomile Camomilla
Anthemis nobilisL. Roman chamomile Camomilla romana
Cannabis sativa L. Common Hemp Canapa
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Sieber Camphor tree Canfora
Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Blume) Garke Cinnamom Cannella
Cynara scolymus L. Artichoke Carciofo
Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner Holy Thistle Cardo mariano
Rhamnus purshianaDC Cascara sagrada Cascara sagrada
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Indian Penny Wort Centella
Chenopodium ambrosioides L. American Wormseed Chenopodio
Cinchona succirubra Pavon, Red Chincona China
Eugenia caryphyllata Thumb. Clove Chiodi di garofano
Erythroxylon coca Lamarck Coca Shrub Coca
Colchicum autumnale L. Colchicum Colchico
Chondrodendron tomentosum Ruitz e Pavon Curare tree Curaro
Curcuma longa L. Turmeric Curcuma
Digitalis purpurea L. Fox glove Digitale
Dioscorea bulbifera L. Igname (Dioscorea)
Echinacea angustifolia Heller Echinacea Echinacea
Ephedra distachia L. Ephedra Efedra
Acanthopanax senticosusHarms Siberian ginseng Eleuterococco
Equisetum arvenseL. Horse tail Equiseto
Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière Eucalyptus Eucalipto
Dryopteris filix-mas(L.) Schott Male fern Felce maschio
Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Fenugreek Fieno greco
Foeniculum vulgare (Miller) Gaertner Fennel Finocchio
Frangula alnusMiller Frangula Frangola
Fraxinus excelsiorL. Common Ash Frassino
Gentiana lutea L. Gentian Genziana
Juniperus communis L. Juniper Ginepro
Spartium junceumL. Spanish Broom, Genet Ginestra
Ginkgo biloba L. Ginkgo Ginkgo
Panax ginsengC.A. Meyer Ginseng Ginseng
Hyosciamus nigerL. Black Henbane Giusquiamo nero
Hyosciamus albus L. White Henbane Giusquiamo bianco
Acacia Senegal (L) Willd. Arabic Gum Tree Gomma arabica
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Persoon Dog's Grass Gramigna
Pilocarpus jaborandi Holmes Jaborandi shrub Jaborandi
Hydrastis canadensis L. Common Hydrastis Idraste
Cephaëlis ipecacuanha(Brot.) A. Richard Ipecacuanha Ipecacuana
Hypericum perforatum L. St. John's Wort Iperico
Aesculus hippocastanum L. Horse Chestnut Ippocastano
Lavandula angustifolia Miller Lavender Lavanda
Lichens, Licheni
Citrus medicaL. ssp. limomum Lemon Limone
Linum usitatissimumL. Linseed Lino
Glycyrrhiza glabraL. Licorice Liquirizia
Humulus lupulusL. Hops Luppolo
Malva sylvestrisL. Blue Mallow Malva
Prunus amygdalusStokes var. dulcis Sweet Almond Tree Mandorlo dolce
Ilex paraguariensisSt. Hill Matè Matè
Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel Tea tree Melaleuca
Melissa officinalis L. Balm Mint Melissa
Punica granatum L. Pomegranate Melograno
Menta x piperita L Peppermint Menta
Achillea millefoliumL. Yarrow Millefoglie
Commiphora molmol Engler Myrrh Mirra
Vaccinium myrtillusL. Bilberry Mirtillo
Convallaria majalis L. May Lily Mughetto
Strycnos nux-vomicaL. Nux Vomiva Poison Nut, Dog Buttons Noce vomica, Stricnos
Papaver somniferumL. Opium Poppy Papavero da oppio
Passiflora incarnata L. Passion flower Passiflora
Capsicum annuum L. Capsicum Peperoncino
Catharanthus roseus G. Don.L. Soldier's Palm, Periwinkle Pervinca del Madacascar
Pinus spp. Pino
Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trev.) Schultz Bip. Roman Pellitory Piretro
Plantago lanceolata L. Small Plantain Plantago
Podophyllum peltatum L. American Mandrake Podofillo
Polygala senega L. Senega Poligala
Plantago psillium L. Plantain Psillio
Rheum officinale Baillon Rhubarb Rabarbaro
Krameria triandra Ruiz et Pavon Rhatany Ratania
Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Bentham Rauwolfia Rauwolfia
Ricinus communisL. Castor oil tree Ricino
Rosmarinus officinalis L. Rosemary Rosmarino
Salvia officinalis L. Sage Salvia
Sambucus nigraL. Sambucus, Elder Sambuco
Urginea scilla Steinh. Squil Scilla
Claviceps purpurea(Fries) Tulasne Ergot of Rye Segale cornuta
Brassica alba (L.) Boiss. White Mustard Senape bianca
Brassica nigra (L.) Koch Black Mustard Senape nera
Cassia angustifolia Vahl Senna, Tinnevelly senna Senna
Cassia senna L. Senna Senna
Glycine soja Siebold et Zuccarini Soja Soia
Spiraea ulmaria (L.) Maximowicz Dropwort Olmaria, Spirea
Datura stramonium L. Stramonium Weed Stramonio
Strophanthus kombè Oliver Strophanthus Strofanto
Taxus baccata L. Ewe Tree Tasso
Tilia platyphyllos Scopoli Linden, Basswood Tiglio
Thymus vulgarisL. Thyme Timo
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengel Uva ursina
Valeriana officinalis L. Valerian Valeriana
Crocus sativus L. Saffron Zafferano

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 course will be conducted through lectures with the projection of images and diagrams. The active participation of students with questions, requests for clarification and deepening is always welcome.

Assessment methods

Plant Biology

The final exam consists in a written test of a maximum duration of 2 hours, on the topics discussed during the lectures.

The test will consist of 20 multiple choice questions (0.8 point per question); 3 recognition of cells / tissues / plant organs (up to 3 points per question); 2 open-ended question (up to 4 points per question).

Once passed, the duration of the vote is of one year. If within this period the student will not sustain the module of Pharmaceutical Botany, he/she will need to retake the module of Plant Biology

Pharmaceutical Botany

The final exam consists in a written test of a maximum duration of 1 hours, on the topics discussed during the lectures.

The test will consist of 10 multiple choice questions (1 point per question); 4 recognitions of medical plants (up to 5 points per question). Once succesfully completed, an oral examination will be following.

Office hours

See the website of Manuela Mandrone