BOTANICA FARMACEUTICA APPLICATA

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 PowerPoint projection and/or short films. 

Group laboratory exercises. 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 program 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 Santina Chiechio

.

Pharmaceutical Biology

Compulsory, as required by the teaching regulations

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

The Applied Pharmaceutical Botany course will be divided into face-to-face lectures (7 CFU) and shared and cooperative group laboratory exercises dedicated to recognizing and identifying plants of specific herbal and pharmaceutical interest (1 CFU), during which students will be asked to participate in feedback assessment activities.

Introduction to the study of Pharmaceutical Botany. Classification. Concept of species. Taxonomic system and evolution of systems.

Vegetative and sexual reproduction. Biological cycles. 

Fungi. Morphology. The mycelium. Heterotrophy. Propagation. Sexual reproduction. Systematics of Fungi. Morphology and pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Intoxications by fungi.

Algae. General characters. Morphology and pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium Sp.; Gigartinaceae: Chondrus crispus; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus

Hints of Lichens and Mosses. Morphology. Utilization

Plant tissues: Meristematic or embryonic tissues. Adult or definitive tissues: parenchymal system, tegumental system, conducting system, segregating system, and mechanical system.

Spermatophytes. Gymnosperms. Morphology and pharmaceutical and application interest of: Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Ephedrales

Angiosperms. The flower and its elements. The inflorescences. Sexual reproduction. The seed. The fruit. The leaves.

Classification of the Angiosperms.

Pharmaceutical interest of 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
BURSERACEAE: Boswellia
CACTACEAE: Opuntia ficus indica
CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa, Humulus lupulus
POLYGONACEAE: Reum sp.
STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao
FABACEAE: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cassia senna
APIACEAE: Angelica archangelica, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum
EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis
ERICACEAE: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; Vaccinum sp
RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, R. purshiana
ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca
GROSSULARIACEAE: Ribes nigrum
MYRTACEAE: Melaleuca alternifolia
RUTACEAE: Citrus sp.
APOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Rauwolfia serpentine, Vinca
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, Echinacea sp,.
VITACEAE: Vitis vinifera

The program is divided into five parts.

Part 1: 1,5 CFU – 10,5hrs.

Introduction to the study of Pharmaceutical Botany. Classification. Concept of species. Taxonomic system and evolution of systems.

Vegetative and sexual reproduction. Biological cycles. 

Fungi. Morphology. The mycelium. Heterotrophy. Propagation. Sexual reproduction. Systematics of Fungi. Morphology and pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Intoxications by fungi.

Part 2: 1 CFU - 7hrs.

Algae. General characters. Morphology and pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium Sp.; Gigartinaceae: Chondrus crispus; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus

Hints of Lichens and Mosses. Morphology. Utilization

Part 3:  1 CFU - 7hrs.

Plant tissues: Meristematic or embryonic tissues. Adult or definitive tissues: parenchymal system, tegumental system, conducting system, segregating system, and mechanical system.

Spermatophytes. Gymnosperms. Morphology and pharmaceutical and application interest of: Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, Ephedrales

Angiosperms. The flower and its elements. The inflorescences. Sexual reproduction. The seed. The fruit. The leaves.

Part 4:  3,5 CFU – 24,5 hrs.

Classification of the Angiosperms.

Pharmaceutical interest of 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
BURSERACEAE: Boswellia
CACTACEAE: Opuntia ficus indica
CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa, Humulus lupulus
POLYGONACEAE: Reum sp.
STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao
FABACEAE: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Cassia senna
APIACEAE: Angelica archangelica, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum
EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis
ERICACEAE: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; Vaccinum sp
RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, R. purshiana
ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca
GROSSULARIACEAE: Ribes nigrum
MYRTACEAE: Melaleuca alternifolia
RUTACEAE: Citrus sp.
APOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Rauwolfia serpentine, Vinca
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, Echinacea sp,.
VITACEAE: Vitis vinifera

Part 5:  1 CFU ELG (group laboratory exercise) - 12 hrs.

Tissue and plant recognition; classification and collection of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Theoretical-practical verification to be offered at the end of each group exercise.

Written and oral. Verification of learning may also be carried out electronically, should conditions require it.

EVALUATIVE CRITERIA.
The final exam will be evaluated based on the following indicators weighted equally and consistent with what is described in the expected learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors):
- personal processing skills and operational initiative;
- ability to consult and use bibliographic materials;
- expository skills;
- scientific understanding of the topic.
Therefore, the final grade takes into account various factors listed below.
Quality of knowledge, skills, competencies possessed and/or manifested:
(a) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of knowledge
(b) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of skills
(c) appropriateness, correctness and congruence of skills
Expository mode:
(a) Expressive ability;
(b) Appropriate use of discipline-specific language;
(c) Logical skills and consequentiality in linking content;
(d) Ability to connect different topics by finding common points and establishing a coherent overall pattern, i.e., taking care of structure, organization and logical connections of expository discourse;
(e) Ability to synthesize including through the use of the subject's own symbolism and the graphic expression of notions and concepts, in the form of, for example, formulas, diagrams, equations.
Relational qualities:
Willingness to exchange and interact with the lecturer during the interview.
Personal qualities:
(a) critical spirit;
(b) ability to self-evaluate;
(c) problem-solving skills;
(d) ability to make decisions.
 
Based on the above, the rating can be:
(a) Sufficient (18 to 20/30)
Candidate demonstrates little acquired knowledge, superficial level, many gaps. Modest expressive skills, but still sufficient to sustain a coherent dialogue; logical skills and consequentiality in connecting topics of elementary level; poor synthesis skills and rather stunted graphic expression skills; poor interaction with the lecturer during the interview.
(b) Fair (21 to 23)
Candidate demonstrates fair acquisition of notions, but little in-depth study, few gaps; more than sufficient expressive skills to sustain a coherent dialogue; acceptable command of scientific language; logical skills and consequentiality in connecting topics of moderate complexity; more than sufficient ability to synthesize and acceptable graphic expression skills.
Example Questions: 1.Describe the morphology and classification of the plant body 2. Describe the morphology of meristematic tissues 4. Characteristics and function of primary and secondary metabolites 5. Biotechnology of medicinal plants. 6. Medicinal plants for the production of hormones, vaccines, and natural and bioactive products.
(c) Good (24 to 26)
The candidate demonstrates a fairly broad background, moderate depth of knowledge, with small gaps; satisfactory expressive skills and significant mastery of scientific language; well-detectable dialogical skills and critical spirit; good synthesis skills and more than acceptable graphical expression skills.
(d) Excellent (27 to 29)
The candidate demonstrates a very extensive, well-developed body of knowledge, with marginal gaps; remarkable expressive skills and high mastery of scientific language; remarkable dialogical ability, good competence and relevant aptitude for logical synthesis; high synthesis and graphic expression skills.
(e) Excellent (30)
The candidate demonstrates a very extensive and in-depth knowledge base, any gaps irrelevant; high expressive ability and high mastery of scientific language; remarkable dialogical ability, marked aptitude for making connections between different topics; excellent synthesis ability and great familiarity with graphic expression.
Honors are awarded to candidates who are clearly above average, and whose possible limitations in notional, expressive, conceptual, and logical skills are on the whole completely irrelevant.

CALLS DATES

Exam dates are published on the website of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences

http://www.dsf.unict.it/corsi/l-29_sfa/calendario-esami

The verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, 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 specific 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 Santina Chiechio.

1. Describe the morphology and classification of a lichen 

2. Describe morphology of a rhodophyta alga and the life cycle of the Florideophycidae 

3. Describe the morphology and reproductive characteristics of bryophytes

4. Describe the botanical and pharmaceutical characteristics of Digitalis purpurea

5. Describe the botanical and pharmaceutical characteristics of Allium sativum