PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY

Knowledge and understanding: the course provides the tools for the recognition of the main plants of pharmaceutical and herbal interest

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student acquires the skills necessary to understand the use and use of medicinal plants in the pharmaceutical and herbalist industry

Learning skills: the student becomes able to recognize and identify plants of specific pharmaceutical and herbal interest

Making judgments: the student develops his critical ability in knowing how to recognize a medicinal plant.

Ability to solve a problem: the student is encouraged to recognize the botanical and pharmaceutical characteristics of medicinal plants

The course will be structured in frontal teaching with power point projection and/or short films. During the course there will be exercises and problem based learning. 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.

Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci.

Pharmaceutical Biology

Attendance is compulsory according to the regulations of the teaching regulations of the CdS in SFA as reported in the link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/l-29_sfa/regolamento-didattico

• Introduction to the study of the Pharmaceutical Botany. Classification. species concept. taxonomic system and evolution of systems. Supply of Medicinal Plants.
• Vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction. The biological cycles. 
  
• Mushrooms. Morphology. The mycelium. Heterotrophy. Propagation. sexual reproduction. Systematics of mushrooms. Morphology, pharmaceutical and application interest of: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Intoxication with mushrooms
• Algae. General characters. Morphology, pharmaceutical and application interest of: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium Sp.; Gigartinaceae: Chondrus crispus; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus
• Overview of lichens and mosses. Morphology. utilization 
• Spermatophytes. Gymnosperms. Morphology, ontogenetic cycle and practical interest of: Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Ephedrales
• Angiosperms. The flower and its entirety. The inflorescences. Sexual reproduction. The seed. The fruit. Leaves.
• Classification of angiosperms.
• Primary and secondary metabolites

LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES)

• ALLIACEAE: Allium sativum; 
• AGAVACEAE: Agave americana
• ASPARAGACEAE: Convallaria majalis; Asparagus officinalis
• LILIACEAE: Drimia maritima (Urginea maritima), Colchicum autumnale
• ZINGIBERACEAE: Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinalis

MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTILEDONES)

• LAURACEAE: Cinnamomum  sp., Laurus nobilis
• PAPAVERACEAE: Papaver somniferum, Chelidonium majus 
• LAMIACEAE: Mentha sp., Lavandula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, Origanum sp., Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis
• CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa. Humulus lupulus
• POLYGONACEAE: Reum sp.
• STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao
• FABACEAE: Glycyrrhiza glabra 
• APIACEAE: Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum
• EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis
• RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, R. purshiana
• ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca
• APOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Rauwolfia serpentina
• SOLANACEAE: Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Nicotina tabacum 
• SCROPHULARIACEAE: Digitalis sp.
• PASSIFLORACEAE: Passiflora incarnata
• VALERIANACEAE: Valeriana officinalis
• RUBIACEAE: Cinchona sp., 
• ASTERACEAE: Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, Calendula officinalis,  Cynara scolymus, Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale. 

Part 1: 1.5 CFU - 10.5h             

• Introduction to the study of the Pharmaceutical Botany. Classification. species concept. taxonomic system and evolution of systems. Supply of Medicinal Plants.
• Vegetative reproduction. Sexual reproduction. The biological cycles. 
• Mushrooms. Morphology. The mycelium. Heterotrophy. Propagation. sexual reproduction. Systematics of mushrooms. Morphology, pharmaceutical and application interest of: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Intoxication with mushrooms

Part 2: 1 CFU - 7h             

• Algae. General characters. Morphology, pharmaceutical and application interest of: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium Sp.; Gigartinaceae: Chondrus crispus; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus
• Overview of lichens and mosses. Morphology. utilization 

Part 3: 1 CFU - 7 h 

• Spermatophytes. Gymnosperms. Morphology, ontogenetic cycle and practical interest of: Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Ephedrales
• Angiosperms. The flower and its elements. The inflorescences. Sexual reproduction. The seed. The fruit. Leaves.

Part 4: 2.5 CFU - 17.5h 

• Classification of angiosperms.
• Primary and secondary metabolites

LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES)

• ALLIACEAE: Allium sativum; 
• AGAVACEAE: Agave americana
• ASPARAGACEAE: Convallaria majalis; Asparagus officinalis
• LILIACEAE: Drimia maritima (Urginea maritima), Colchicum autumnale
• ZINGIBERACEAE: Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinalis

MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTILEDONES)

• LAURACEAE: Cinnamomum  sp., Laurus nobilis
• PAPAVERACEAE: Papaver somniferum, Chelidonium majus 
• LAMIACEAE: Mentha sp., Lavandula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, Origanum sp., Melissa officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis
• CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa. Humulus lupulus
• POLYGONACEAE: Reum sp.
• STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao
• FABACEAE: Glycyrrhiza glabra 
• APIACEAE: Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum
• EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis
• RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, R. purshiana
• ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca
• APOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Rauwolfia serpentina
• SOLANACEAE: Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Nicotina tabacum 
• SCROPHULARIACEAE: Digitalis sp.
• PASSIFLORACEAE: Passiflora incarnata
• VALERIANACEAE: Valeriana officinalis
• RUBIACEAE: Cinchona sp., 
• ASTERACEAE: Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, Calendula officinalis,  Cynara scolymus, Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale. 

1.   Maugini E., Maleci Bini L., Mariotti Lippi M. - Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica IX Ed. – PICCIN 2014

2.   Leporatti M., Foddai S., Tommasini L. - Testo atlante di anatomia vegetale e delle piante officinali – PICCIN 1997

3.   Poli F. - Biologia Farmaceutica - II Ed. - Pearson 2019

The exam dates are published on the site of the Department of Drug Sciences http://www.dsf.unict.it/sites/default/files/files/ESAMI%20CDL%20SFA(13).pdf Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it. Information for students with disabilities and / or SLD: To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and / or dispensatory measures, based on the teaching objectives and specifications needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP contact person (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and / or SLD) of the Department, prof.ssa Teresa Musumeci. Example Questions 1. Descrivere la morfologia e la classisicazione di un lichene 2. Descrivere morfologia di un'alga rhodophyta ed il ciclo biologico delle Florideophycidae 3. Descrivere la morfologia e le caratteristiche riproduttive delle briofite 4. Descrivere le caratteristiche botaniche e farmaceutiche di Digitalis purpurea 5. Descrivere le caratteristiche botaniche e farmaceutiche di Allium sativum