FARMACOLOGIA E TOSSICOLOGIA DELLE PIANTE OFFICINALI E DEI PRODOTTI NUTRACEUTICI

Knowledge and Understanding

The course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of:

a) The basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
b) The clinical efficacy and tolerability profiles, as well as the indications and contraindications, of medicinal plants used in the treatment of the main disorders affecting the human body.
c) The main drug interactions between herbal medicines and medicinal products.

Knowledge of both the different classes of active compounds found in medicinal plants and nutraceutical products, and the main interactions between drugs and medicinal plants, represents an essential step in the professional training of future herbalists.

Applied Knowledge and Understanding

To understand the main topics in the pharmacology of medicinal plants, including current theoretical, experimental, and practical developments in the field.

Autonomy of Judgment

The ability to formulate and support personal interpretations of issues related to the subject.

Communication Skills

The ability to use the basic terminology of the discipline. The ability to communicate with the various specialists involved in the clinical use of medicinal plants, using appropriate pharmacological terminology, while also being able to explain basic pharmacology concepts clearly and accurately to non-specialists.

Learning Skills

To have acquired a body of knowledge useful for further study of the disciplines comprising the degree programme. The ability to independently expand and update one’s knowledge, including through the use of specialized literature and appropriate bibliographic resources.

Part of the teaching hours will be devoted to analysing the possible therapeutic applications of medicinal plants. The course includes specific lectures featuring simulations of real clinical cases, the primary objective of which is to provide students with essential knowledge of drug–herb interactions and the possible occurrence of adverse reactions.

Should the course be delivered in a blended or distance-learning format, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to the arrangements described above in order to comply with the programme outlined in this syllabus.

According to the provisions of the RDA, Article 12 – University Educational Credits (CFU), within the standard workload of 25 hours of total student commitment corresponding to one credit, the following activities may be included:

a) 7 hours devoted to lectures or equivalent teaching activities, with the remaining hours dedicated to individual study;

b) no fewer than 12 and no more than 15 hours devoted to classroom exercises or equivalent supervised activities (laboratory work), with the remaining hours dedicated to study and individual review.

Students may use AI as a study-support tool, in compliance with the applicable legislation, including copyright law and the regulations governing the use of intellectual works, as described in section 5.1 of the guidelines:

https://www.unict.it/it/ateneo/cidia-centro-l%E2%80%99informatica-la-digitalizzazione-e-l%E2%80%99intelligenza-artificiale

Good knowledge of General and Organic Chemistry. Good knowledge of Anatomy and Physiology Good knowledge of General Biochemistry and Nutrition Good knowledge of Phytochemistry Good knowledge of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany

Attendance is compulsory, as stipulated in the academic regulations of the Degree Programme. Absences are permitted for no more than 30% of the total number of teaching hours, irrespective of the mode of delivery:

https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/l-29_sfa/regolamento-didattico

Anti-inflammatory drugs.

Vitamins.

Drugs active on the Central Nervous System (CNS): Stimulating, anorectic, antidepressant (with particular attention to hypericum), anxiolytics, cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, cannabis, cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens, caffeine active ingredients.

Medicinal plants and reproductive system: black cohosh, chaste tree, phytoestrogens (classification, mechanism of action and possible use in menopause). Herbal medicine for benign prostatic hypertrophy: Serenoa repens, Pygeum africanum.

Drugs that affect the respiratory system: expectorants, anti-asthmatics (with particular attention to theophylline).

Adaptogenic and immunostimulating medicinal plants: ginseng and echinacea

 Gastrointestinal drugs: purgatives (with particular attention to anthraquinone laxatives), antidiarrheal.

Antineoplastics (in particular vinca alkaloids and taxol) and notes on carcinogens

Potential clinically relevant herb–drug interactions for commonly used herbs: the role of CYP450.

Capasso F., Grandolini G., Izzo A., FITOTERAPIA. Aggiornamento della II Ed. di Fitofarmacia

(Capasso,Grandolini), Springer, Milano.

Oral exam

 Learning assessment takes place exclusively through a final exam, which verifies the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills through an oral examination, with the possibility of student-chosen in-depth topics.

The evaluation criteria are listed below: a) relevance of the answers to the questions formulated; b) quality of the content; c) ability to connect with other topics covered in the syllabus; d) ability to provide examples; e) command of technical terminology; f) overall expressive capacity of the student.

CInAP support will be required in presence of specific teaching activities related to specific needs

Exam dates are published on the Degree Programme’s website:
https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/l-29_sfa/calendario-esami

Pharmacology of medicinal plants

1. Valeriana officinalis

2. Melissa officinalis

3. Passiflora incarnata

4. Hypericum perforatum in the treatment of major depression

5. Alzheimer's disease: cholinesterase inhibitors and Hyperzia serrata

6. Alzheimer's disease: active ingredients with neuro-protective action, Gingko Biloba, Salvia officinalis,

Melissa officinalis

7. Medicinal plants that affect glycidic and lipid metabolism: phytosterols, garlic, artichoke

8. Guggul gum

9. Fenugreek

10. Fermented red rice

11. Herbal medicine for overweight and obesity: gommaguar, garcinia

12. Phytotherapy of diabetes mellitus with notes on medicinal plants that cause hypoglycemia

13. Medicinal plants and urinary system: Antiseptics: bearberry, American blueberry

14. Medicinal plants and urinary system: Diuretics: juniper, horsetail, European goldenrod, orthosiphon,

parsley, lovage and weeds

15. Phytotherapy of bronchial asthma: ephedra, ginkgo, ligustic, plants of the genus Solanum,

boswellia and ivy.

16. Indirect expectorants: polygala, licorice, primila, mullein.

17. Direct expectorants: thyme, eucalyptus, pine essence, fir essence, niaouli essence.

18. Ginseng

19. Echinacea

20. Black cohosh, chaste tree,

21. Phytoestrogens (classification, mechanism of action and possible use in menopause).

22. Phytotherapy of constipation: anthraquinone laxatives (senna, cascara, buckthorn, rhubarb)

23. Bulking plant laxatives (dietary fiber, bran, psyllium, agar, guar gum)

24. Phytotherapy of diarrhea: medicinal plants containing tannins, plants of the genus Potentilla.

25. Mint oil and irritable colon treatment

26. Medicinal plants used in the prevention of tumors: plants of the genus allium, green tea,

ginseng, soy, tomato, turmeric.

27. Drug interactions in phytotherapy: cytochrome P450 and interactions between plants

medicines and drugs: enzyme inhibition and induction (with particular attention to interactions

which have relevance in clinical practice).

28. Anti-inflammatory drugs
29. Vitamins