BOTANICA FARMACEUTICA DELLE PIANTE OFFICINALI - FARMACOGNOSIA M - Z
Module BOTANICA FARMACEUTICA DELLE PIANTE OFFICINALI

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE MALFA

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Ability to Understand: The course provides tools for the recognition of major plants of pharmaceutical, herbal and nutraceutical interest
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student knowledge on the authentication and quality of plant matrices pharmaceutical interest. He/she also acquires the skills necessary to understand the use and utilization of medicinal plants and its derivatives for therapeutic applications and/or as ingredients for phytotherapeutic, nutraceutical and cosmoceutical formulations.
Learning skills: the student becomes capable of recognizing and identifying products of plant origin with health interest
Autonomy of judgment: the student develops critical thinking skills in being able to recognize a health product of natural origin and possible fields of application
Problem-solving skills: the student will be able to identify a plant product or ingredients for a physiological disorder.

Course Structure

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.

Required Prerequisites

Pharmaceutical biology

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is compulsory according to the regulations of the teaching regulations of the Degree Course in Framcia as indicated in the link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/piani-di-studio

Detailed Course Content

Taxonomic system and evolution of systems. Plant tissues: Meristematic or embryonic tissues. Adult or definitive tissues: parenchymal system, tegumental system, conducting system, segregating system, and mechanical system.
Reproduction of plant organisms: vegetative and sexual. Biological cycles.
Fungi. General characters. Morphology. Reproduction. Pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Fungal intoxication.
Algae. General characters. Morphology. Reproduction. Pharmaceutical and applicative interest of: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium sp.; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus
Spermatophytes. Gymnosperms. Morphology and pharmaceutical and application interest of: Ginkgophyta, Ephedrales
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.

LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES)

ALLIACEAE: Allium sativum;

LILIACEAE: Colchicum autumnale

ZINGIBERACEAE: Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinalis

MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTILEDONES)

ALOEACEAE: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox

APIACEAE: Angelica archangelica, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisum

APOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Vinca

ASTERACEAE: Arnica montana, Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, Calendula officinalis, Cynara scolymus, Echinacea sp., Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale.

BURSERACEAE: Boswellia

CACTACEAE: Opuntia ficus indica

CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Humulus lupulus

ERICACEAE: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; Vaccinum sp

ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca

EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis

FABACEAE: Cassia senna

GROSSULARIACEAE: Ribes nigrum

LAMIACEAE: Mentha sp., Lavandula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis

LAURACEAE: Cinnamomum sp., Laurus nobilis

MALVACEAE: Altea officinalis, Malva sylvestris

MYRTACEAE: Melaleuca alternifolia

OLEACEAE: Olea europea, Fraxinus sp

PAPAVERACEAE: Papaver sp.

PASSIFLORACEAE: Passiflora incarnata

PEDALIACEAE: Harpagophytum procumbens

RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, Rhamnus purshiana

RUTACEAE: Citrus sp.

SCROPHULARIACEAE: Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis lanata

SOLANACEAE: Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Nicotina tabacum

STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao

TAXACEAE: Taxus brevifolia

VALERIANACEAE: Valeriana officinalis

VITACEAE: Vitis vinifera

Textbook Information

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

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Concetto di specie. Sistema tassonomico ed evoluzione dei sistemi. Tessuti vegetali: Tessuti meristematici o embrionali. Tessuti adulti o definitivi: sistema parenchimatico, sistema tegumentale, sistema conduttore, sistema segregatore e sistema meccanico.Testi: 1: Capitolo 4, 9, 10; Testo 3: Capitolo 1-6-7-10 
2La riproduzione. La moltiplicazione. La riproduzione sessuale. I gameti e la gamia. Le spore. I cicli biologici.Testo 1: Capitolo 8;  
3Funghi. Morfologia. Il micelio. Eterotrofia. Propagazione. Riproduzione sessuale. Sistematica dei Funghi. Morfologia, ciclo ontogenetico ed interesse applicativo di: Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota. Intossicazioni da funghiTesti: 1: Capitolo 11;  
4Alghe. Caratteri generali. Morfologia, ciclo ontogenetico ed interesse applicativo di: Rhodophyta: Gelidiaceae: Gelidium Sp.; Gigartinaceae: Chondrus crispus; Phaeophyta: Laminariaceae: Laminaria sp., Fucus. Licheni. La simbiosi lichenica.Testi: 1: Capitolo 12, 13;  
5Morfologia. Utilizzazione Muschi. Le cormofite. Briofite. Hepatophyta. BryophytaTesti: 1: Capitolo 14; 
6Spermatofite. Gimnosperme. Morfologia, ciclo ontogenetico ed interesse applicativo di: Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, EphedralesTesti: 1: Capitolo 16; 
7Angiosperme. Il fiore e i suoi elementi. Le infiorescenze. La riproduzione sessuale. Il seme. Il frutto. Le foglie. Classificazione delle Angiosperme. Metaboliti primari e secondariTesti: 1: Capitolo 5, 6, 17;
8LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES) ALLIACEAE: Allium sativum;  LILIACEAE: Colchicum autumnale; ZINGIBERACEAE: Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinalisTesti: 1: Capitolo 17;
9MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTILEDONES) ALOEACEAE: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis, Aloe ferox APIACEAE: Angelica archangelica, Foeniculum vulgare, Pimpinella anisumAPOCYNACEAE: Strophanthus sp., Vinca; ASTERACEAE: Arnica montana, Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, Calendula officinalis, Cynara scolymus, Echinacea sp., Silybum marianum, Taraxacum officinale. BURSERACEAE: BoswelliaTesti: 1: Capitolo 17;
10CACTACEAE: Opuntia ficus indica; CANNABACEAE: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Humulus lupulus; ERICACEAE: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; Vaccinum sp; ERYTHROXYLACEAE: Erythroxylon coca; EUPHORBIACEAE: Ricinus communis; FABACEAE: Cassia senna; GROSSULARIACEAE: Ribes nigrum; LAMIACEAE: Mentha sp., Lavandula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis; LAURACEAE: Cinnamomum sp., Laurus nobilis MALVACEAE: Altea officinalis, Malva sylvestris; MYRTACEAE: Melaleuca alternifolia;Testi: 1: Capitolo 17;
11OLEACEAE: Olea europea, Fraxinus sp.; PAPAVERACEAE: Papaver sp.; PASSIFLORACEAE: Passiflora incarnata. PEDALIACEAE: Harpagophytum procumbens; RHAMNACEAE: Rhamnus frangula, Rhamnus purshiana; RUTACEAE: Citrus sp.; SCROPHULARIACEAE: Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis lanata; SOLANACEAE: Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, Nicotina tabacum; STERCULIACEAE: Cola acuminata, C. vera, Teobroma cacao; TAXACEAE: Taxus brevifolia; VALERIANACEAE: Valeriana officinalis; VITACEAE: Vitis viniferaTesti: 1: Capitolo 17;

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

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.

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 Santina Chiechio. 

Exam Dates
Exam dates are posted on the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences website: http://www.dsf.unict.it/sites/default/files/files/ESAMI%20CDLM%20FARMACIA(21).pdf

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

1. Describe the morphology and classification of Angiosperms
2. Describe morphology of an alga rhodophyta
3. Describe morphology and characteristics of fungi
4. Describe the botanical and pharmaceutical characteristics of Digitalis purpurea
5. Describe the botanical and pharmaceutical characteristics of Allium sativum