18040 - General Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes will be: a)  basic knowledge about drug metabolism (administration, clearance, therapeutics, adverse effects); b) identification, structure and reactivity of biologically active substances, including  therapeutic and  toxic effects of the most important plant and animal drugs.

Course contents

GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY. General pharmacokinetics: passages of drugs across cell membranes;  routes of administration and absorption; bioavailability;  distribution of drugs in the body; volume of distribution, binding to plasma proteins; drug metabolism; excretion; time-course of drug plasmatic contents (after single or repeated administration). General pharmacodynamics: targets and mechanisms of drug  action; receptors, classification of mebrane receptors, intracellular receptors, dose-response curve; agonists, partial agonists, antagonists; individual variations (effects of age, pathological states, drug interactions, tolerance, placebo effects). General toxicity: side-effects, overdose, idiosyncratic and allergic reactions; teratogenesis and foetal toxicity; carcinogenesis; drug dependency. Clinical evaluation. Pharmacosurveillance  and plant drug monitoring.

 Definition and aim of PHARMACOGNOSY; definition and classification of plant drug; factors affecting the activity: natural, endogenous, exogenous and preparation-dependent. Plant drug: conditions of preservation, analysis, identification, quality control, distinctive characters, endogenous active substances, therapeutic strategies, toxic effects, potion preparation of the following PLANT DRUGS:  containing carbohydrates: Manna*, Starch,  Hollyhock, Flax*,  Agar, Arabic Gum*; Tragacanth Gum*, Cotton.  containing lipids: Castor oil*,  Cacao butter. containing essential oils and gums: Wormwood,  Matricaria*, Roman Chamomile*, Cannabis, Camphor, Capsicum*,  Fish (or Levant) Berry,  Eucalyptus*,  Male fern*, Clove*, Mint, Nutmeg, Valerian*. containing tannins: Witch hazel*.  containing quinones: Aloe*, Cascara sagrada*, , Buckthorn*, Senna*, Rhubarb*,  Saint John's wort.  containing saponins: Licorice*, Ginseng. containing cardiac glycosides:  Foxgloves*, Strophanthus*, .Squill. containing flavonoid glycosides:  Maidenhair tree. containing alkaloids: Opium poppy, Boldo*, Ipacacuanha*, Cinchona*, Rauwolfia, containing xanthines: (Cacao, Coffee, Tea), Tobacco, Nux vomica*, Ergot of Rye*, Ephedras, Jaborandi, Calabar bean, Deadly nightshade*, Henbane,  Thorn apple, Coca, Curare, Common periwinkle, Yew. Plant drugs containing psychotomimetic substances.  DRUGS FROM ANIMALS:  sera, vaccines.

The students must recognize the  plant drugs indicated by the symbol * and the botanical features of the plants they come from.

Readings/Bibliography

F.Clementi, G. Fumagalli, Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare-  UTET 2007.

B.G. KATZUNG, Farmacologia Generale e Clinica, Piccin. VI Edizione italiana sulla IX in lingua inglese, Piccin, 2006.

G:L: Biagi, E.Speroni "Farmacognosia", Patron Editore M.L.Leporatti, S.Foddai, L. Tomassini "Testo atlante di Anatomia Vegetale e delle Piante Officinali", Piccin editore 2009

Teaching methods

frontal lessons

Assessment methods

During the course: test  concerning General Pharmacology (multiple choice test). At the end of the course: oral examination. The student must recognize the plant drugs indicated by the asterisk.

Teaching tools

trasparencies, DVD, Power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Romualdi