FITOTERAPIA ALIMENTAZIONE E NUTRIZIONE UMANAModule FITOTERAPIA
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE CARUSOExpected Learning Outcomes
Aim of this course is to provide a specific knowledge of the clinical efficacy and side effects of the pharmacological and toxicological properties including both indications and contraindications of herbal medicines used for the treatment of human diseases. The herbalist working in medical settings, private practice, or other settings should know not only the most recent approaches in the field of phytotherapy, but also the most relevant drug interactions between herbs and drugs.
Should teaching be
carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes
with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and
outlined in the syllabus.
Course Structure
The course will be structured in lectures aimed to describe the pharmacological and toxicological properties of herbal medicines and their current application for the treatment of human disorders.
Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.
Required Prerequisites
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 of Lessons
Mandatory attendance according to the rules of the teaching regulations of the Course in SFA (link: https://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/l-29_sfa/regolamento-didattico).
Detailed Course Content
Principles of herbal pharmacology and definition of a therapeutic active principle.
General characteristics of herbal medicines and the concept of phytocomplex, differences with synthetic drugs, side effects of the pharmacological and toxicological properties including both indications and contraindications of herbal medicines.
Phytotherapic treatments for disorders of the central nervous system: Valeriana officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, Kava, Humulus lupulus L., Hyperzia serrata, Gingko Biloba, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis.
Herbal medicines used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: Crataegus spp, Aesculus hippocastanum L., Ruscus aculeatis L., Ginkgo biloba L., Centella asiatica L., Vitis vinifera. Nutraceuticals: omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, B12 and the treatment of hyperomocyteinemia.
Phytotherapic treatments of metabolic diseases: Allium sativum, Cynara Scolymus, Oryza sativa, Trigonella foenum-grecum, Commiphora mukul, gommaguar, Garcinia cambogia.
Herbal medicines used for the treatment of urogenital diseases: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.), Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. Solidago virgaurea L., Cynodon dactylon L., Equisetum sp., Agropyron repens, Petroselinum crispum, Levisticum officinale.
Phytotherapic treatments for inflammation: Salix alba L., Spirea olmaria L., Harpagophytum procumbens.
Phytotherapic treatments of respiratory diseases: Ephedra sinica, Gingko biloba, Ligusticum wallichii,Solanum-related herbal medicines, Boswellia serrata, Hedera helix. Polygala senega, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Thymus vulgaris L., Verbascum sp., Polygola sp. Primula veris. Picea e Abies, Melaleuca viridiflora.
Herbal medicines with immunomodulatory action: Panax Ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Echinacea.
Potential clinically relevant herb–drug interactions for commonly used herbs: the role of CYP450.
Textbook Information
Mazzanti G., Dell'Agli M., Izzo A. Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia, 2020. pp. 3-36; pp 67-112, pp 115-457.
Capasso F., Grandolini G., Izzo A., FITOTERAPIA. Aggiornamento della II Ed. di Fitofarmacia (Capasso,Grandolini), Springer, Milano, pp. 3-78, 221-246, 319-762, 770-830.
Firenzuoli F., 2002 - FITOTERAPIA. III Ed., Masson, Milano.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Differenza fra farmaco di sintesi e rimedio fitoterapico | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 2 | Il fitocomplesso: definizione e proprietà | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 3 | Principali preparazioni fitoterapiche ottenibili con le droghe vegetali | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 4 | Reazioni avverse, controindicazioni delle piante medicinali | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 5 | Disturbi d’ansia ed insonnia: Valeriana officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, Kava, Humulus lupulus L. | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia+Dispensa docente |
| 6 | Piante medicinali e Malattia di Alzheimer : inibitori delle colinesterasi e Hyperzia serrata, principi attivi ad azione neuro protettiva, Gingko Biloba, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis. | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia+Dispensa docente |
| 7 | Piante medicinali e nutraceutici impiegati nel trattamento delle patologie del sistema cardiovascolare: glicosidi digitalici, biancospino | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 8 | Fitoterapia dell’insufficienza venosa cronica (ippocastano, pino marittimo, centella, mirtillo) | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 9 | Gli omega-3 nella prevenzione delle malattie cardiovascolari e cerebrovascolari (EPA e DHA) | Dispense specifiche e review distribuite dal docente a lezione |
| 10 | Acido folico, vit.B12 e trattamento dell’iperomocisteinemia | Dispense specifiche e review distribuite dal docente a lezione |
| 11 | Piante medicinali che influenzano il metabolismo glicidico e lipidico: fitosteroli, aglio, carciofo | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 12 | Piante medicinali che influenzano il metabolismo glicidico e lipidico: gomma guggul, fieno greco, riso rosso fermentato | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 13 | Fitoterapia del sovrappeso e dell’obesità: gommaguar, garcinia. Fitoterapia del diabete mellito con cenni sulle piante officinali che determinano ipoglicemia | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 14 | Piante medicinali e sistema urinario: Antisettici: uva ursina, mirtillo americano | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 15 | Piante medicinali e sistema urinario: diuretici: ginepro equiseto, verga d’oro europea, ortosifon, prezzemolo , levistico e gramigna. | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 16 | Piante medicinali e malattie infiammatorie: artiglio del diavolo (arpagofito), salice, piante contenenti acidi grassi essenziali | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 17 | Fitoterapia dell’asma bronchiale: efedra, ginkgo, ligustico, piante del genere Solanum, boswellia ed edera | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 18 | Espettoranti indiretti: poligala, liquirizia, primila, verbasco | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 19 | Espettoranti diretti: timo, eucalipto, essenza di pino, essenza di abete, essenzia di niaouli | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 20 | Piante medicinali adattogene ed immunostimolanti: ginseng, eleuterococco ed echinacea | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 21 | Piante medicinali ad azione antiinfiammatoria: camomilla, olio di enotera e di borragine, calendula | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
| 22 | Le interazioni farmacologiche in fitoterapia: il citocromo P450 e le interazioni tra piante medicinali e farmaci: inibizione ed induzione enzimatica (con particolare attenzione alle interazioni che hanno rilevanza nella pratica clinica) | Indice Mazzanti-FarmacognosiaeFitoterapia |
Learning Assessment
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1. Difference between synthetic drug and phytotherapeutic remedy
2. Phytocomplex: definition and properties
3. Main phytotherapeutic preparations obtainable with herbal drugs
4. Adverse reactions, contraindications of medicinal plants
5. Valeriana officinalis
6. Melissa officinalis
7. Passiflora incarnata
8. Kava and Humulus lupulus L.
9. Alzheimer's disease: cholinesterase inhibitors and Hyperzia serrata
10. Alzheimer's disease: active ingredients with neuroprotective activity, Gingko Biloba, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis
11. Medicinal plants and nutraceuticals used in the treatment of diseases of cardiovascular system: digitalis glycosides
12. Hawthorn
13. Herbal medicine for chronic venous insufficiency (horse chestnut, maritime pine, centella, blueberry)
14. Omega-3 and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases
15. Folic acid, vitamin B12 and treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia
16. Medicinal plants that affect glycidic and lipid metabolism: phytosterols, garlic, artichoke
17. Guggul gum
18. Fenugreek
19. Fermented red rice
20. Herbal medicine for overweight and obesity: gomma guar, garcinia
21. Phytotherapy of diabetes mellitus with notes on medicinal plants that cause hypoglycemia
22. Medicinal plants and urinary system: Antiseptics: bearberry, American blueberry
23. Medicinal plants and urinary system: Diuretics: juniper, horsetail, European goldenrod, orthosiphon, parsley, lovage and gramigna
24. Medicinal plants and inflammatory diseases: devil's claw (Harpagophytum)
25. Medicinal plants and inflammatory diseases: willow, plants containing essential fatty acids.
26. Phytotherapy of bronchial asthma: ephedra, ginkgo, ligustico, plants of the genus Solanum, boswellia and ivy
27. Expectorants (“indirect”): polygala, licorice, primula, mullein
28. Expectorants (“direct”): thyme, eucalyptus, pine essence, fir essence, niaouli essence
29. Ginseng
30. Eleutherococcus
31. Echinacea
32. Black cohosh, chaste tree
33. Medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory activity: chamomile, evening primrose and borage oils, calendula
34. Drug interactions in phytotherapy: cytochrome P450 and interactions between medicinal plants and drugs: enzyme inhibition and induction (with particular attention to interactions that have relevance in clinical practice)