PHARMACOGNOSY WITH ELEMENTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANIC

To give the student knowledge about the identification, preparation and biological effects of herbal drugs, and the active principles contained in them, with a view to their use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and salutariness fields.

At the end of the course the student acquires the ability to: describe the organization and function of the organs of higher plants; identify the plant drug, and recognize the chemical structures that constitute the active ingredients. Of the latter knows their pharmacological activity when used in therapeutic and their application in other fields, such as herbal and cosmetology.

The student also learns the basics of pharmacognosy and knows the general preparations with herbal drugs. In addition, it is able to independently assess the preparations of medicinal plants, distinguishing an empirical use to use based on scientific evidence, and to give advice to users on their rational use in certain disorders or diseases, providing information on efficacy, side effects, contraindications and toxicity of herbal medicines and is able to follow the discoveries in the field of herbal products consulting the scientific literature.

Frontal lessons

PROGRAMM

MODULE 1: ELEMENTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL BOTANY (1 CFU)

The organs of vascular land plants
Morphology, function, and their amendments, anatomy histology, pharmaceutical-economic importance.

Reproduction
Asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. Flower, fruit and seed of the Angiosperm.

Elements of Systematic Botany
Origin of Systematic and evolution of taxonomic systems. The taxa and nomenclature.
General information on medicinal plants. Major taxa of medicinal plants

 

MODULE 2: GENERAL PHARMACOGNOSY (4 CFU)

Definition, aims and history of pharmacognosy. Natural substances today. Traditional medicines. Drugs in toto and principles purified.

Crude plant drugs.

Classification. Variability in the activity of a drug: natural factors (endogenous and exogenous) and artificial that lead to changes in the content and quality of active components. Techniques for the production "in vitro" of active ingredients. Vegetable principles as a starting material for hemi-synthesis and molecular models of new drugs. Preparation of herbal drugs (collection time, husking, drying, stabilization, sterilization). Conservation of plant drugs (drying, freezing, freeze-drying). Pulverization of drugs. Preparations with herbal drugs (infusions, decoctions, tisane, extracts, tinctures, syrups, juices, macerated, hydrolates, alcoholates, alcolaturi, essences. Standardization of extracts). Quality control of herbal drugs (Examination of morphological and organoleptic, chemical, physical, biological assays, toxicology). Efficacy and safety of use of preparations of medicinal plants. Chemical classification and biogenesis of active ingredients.

 

MODULE 2: SPECIAL PHARMACOGNOSY (5 CFU)

Recognition, preparation, biological activity and uses of major crude plant drugs of therapeutic drug-technical and cosmetic interest.

Carbohydrates and carbohydrate-containing drugs

-Monosaccharides: glucose, fructose, sorbitol.

-Oligosaccharides: saccharose.

-Polysaccharides: starch, cellulose, dextrans, inulin, pectins, gums, mucilage, carrageenans, alginates.

Main-crude drugs: manna, marshmallow, mallow, psyllium, aloe, echinacea.

Lipids and lipid-containing drugs

-Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, glycerides, waxes.

Main-crude drugs: olive oil, almond oil, peanut oil, seed oil, soybean oil, linseed oil, corn oil, evening primrose oil, castor oil.

Drugs containing proteolytic enzymes

- Pineapple

- Papaya.

Drugs containing terpenes

Monoterpenes: mint, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon balm.

-Diterpenes: ginkgo, rate.

-Sesquiterpenes: chamomile, valerian, wormwood, tansy.

Essences, resins and balsams

Chemical composition and biological effects.

Drugs containing glycosides

-Anthraquinone: aloe, cascara, buckthorn, rhubarb, senna.

-Sulfur: garlic

-Saponinic: licorice, ginseng, horse chestnut.

-Alcohol: willow.

-Aldehyde: vanilla.

-Phenolic: bearberry

Drugs containing phenylpropanoids

-Flavonoids: milk thistle, passion flower, blueberry, artichoke, soy, St. John's wort, propolis.

-Lignans: podofillo.

-Tannins: witch hazel, ratana, gall, green tea.

Drugs containing steroids

-Cardiac glycosides: digital, strophanthus, scilla.

Drugs containing alkaloids

-Amine: capsaicin, ephedra, amanita, peyote, khat.

-Isochinolinic: goldenseal, boldo, colchicum, curare, ipecac, opium.

-Indole: Rauwolfia, yohimbe, the Calabar bean, ergot, wins.

-Quinoline: china.

-Imidazole: jaborandi.

-Pyridine: tobacco.

-Tropane: belladonna, henbane, jimson weed, coke.

-Purine: caffeic crude drugs.

 

Phytovigilance

General principles

Testi consigliati

1. Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica Maugini E., Malesi Bini L., Mariotti Lippi M. Ed.Piccin.

2. Farmacognosia. F. Capasso. Ed. Springer.

3. Farmacognosia applicata. R. Capasso, F. Borrelli, R. Longo, F. Capasso Ed. Springer.

4. Farmacognosia: Farmaci di origine naturale. Samuelsson Gunnar. Ed. EMSI.

 

Testi di consultazione

Fitoterapia. Impiego razionale delle droghe vegetali. F. Capasso, G. Grandolini A. Izzo Ed. Springer.

Fitoterapia. Guida all’uso clinico delle piante medicinali. F. Firenzuoli. Ed. Elsevier.

Fitofarmacovigilanza. F. Capasso, F. Borrelli, S. Castaldo, G. Grandolini. Ed. Springer

Chimica, Biosintesi e Bioattività delle sostanze naturali. P.M. Dewick. Ed. Piccin.

Dizionario Ragionato di Erboristeria e Fitoterapia. A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti. Ed. Piccin.

HPTLC Cromatografia su strato sottile ad alta prestazione per l’analisi delle piante medicinali. E. Reich, A. Schibli. Ed. Cic Edizioni Internazionali.