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PRODOTTI SALUTISTICI ERBORISTICI E FITOTERAPICI AD USO VETERINARIO
Module MODULO 1: BIOLOGIA FARMACEUTICA

Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE MALFA

Expected Learning Outcomes

D1 – Knowledge and Understanding

The course provides advanced knowledge of botany and veterinary ethnobotany, along with the necessary skills for recognizing the main plant species and their derivatives, with particular attention to their traditional use for promoting animal welfare.

D2 – Applied Knowledge and Understanding

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to understand the use of medicinal plants and herbal preparations for animal welfare.

D3 – Autonomy of Judgment

The student will develop the ability for critical analysis and evaluation of plant-based products, with reference to their potential applications, safe use, and available scientific evidence.

D4 – Communication Skills

The student will be able to communicate clearly and rigorously the acquired knowledge, using appropriate technical-scientific terminology, in both academic and professional contexts.

D5 – Learning Skills

The student will acquire autonomy in study and bibliographical research, developing the ability to continuously update their knowledge on the use of plants and plant derivatives in the veterinary field and to select the most relevant scientific information to solve practical problems and identify therapeutic and preventive solutions.

Course Structure

Delivery Methods and University Credits (CFU)

Lectures with the aid of slides and online videos. Exercises and problem-based learning.

Should the course be delivered in a blended or distance learning mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, to comply with the program outlined in the syllabus.

According to the RDA, Art. 12 - University Credits (CFU). The standard workload of 25 hours of total student commitment, corresponding to one credit, may include:

  • 7 hours dedicated to lectures or equivalent teaching activities and the remaining hours to individual study;

  • At least 12 and no more than 15 hours are dedicated to classroom exercises or equivalent assisted activities (labs), with the remaining hours allocated to individual study and personal re-elaboration.

Information for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disabilities (SpLD)

To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SpLD), the reference professor of our Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio.

Required Prerequisites

  • Pharmaceutical Botany of Medicinal Plants - Pharmacognosy

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is mandatory according to the regulations of the Pharmacy Degree Program, as stated in the link: http://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/piani-di-studio

Detailed Course Content

The course introduces the study of plants of veterinary interest, with particular attention to their botanical aspects and traditional uses. The main plant species used for the support and prevention of disorders affecting the following systems will be examined:

  • gastrointestinal system

  • respiratory system

  • immune system

  • osteoarticular system

  • urinary system

  • nervous system

  • integumentary system

  • reproductive system

The program includes the study of the following plant species and genera, grouped by botanical families.

LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTYLEDONS)

  • Poaceae

    • Panicum miliaceum (Millet)

  • Arecaceae

    • Serenoa repens (Dwarf Palm)

MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTYLEDONS)

  • Apiaceae

    • Centella asiatica (Centella asiatica)

  • Araliaceae

    • Eleutherococcus senticosus (Eleutherococcus)

    • Panax ginseng (Ginseng)

  • Asteraceae

    • Hieracium pilosella (Pilosella)

    • Solidago virgaurea (Goldenrod)

  • Equisetaceae

    • Equisetum arvense (Horsetail)

  • Ericaceae

    • Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry)

  • Fabaceae

    • Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus)

    • Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)

  • Fucaceae

    • Ascophyllum nodosum (Kelp)

  • Hamamelidaceae

    • Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel)

  • Lamiaceae

    • Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry)

  • Malpighiaceae

    • Malpighia glabra (Acerola)

  • Meliaceae

    • Azadirachta indica (Neem)

  • Myrtaceae

    • Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus)

  • Papaveraceae

    • Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)

  • Rosaceae

    • Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony)

    • Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

    • Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)

    • Potentilla erecta (Tormentil)

    • Rosa canina (Dog Rose)

  • Salicaceae

    • Salix alba (White Willow)

  • Schisandraceae

    • Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra)

  • Urticaceae

    • Urtica dioica (Nettle)

  • Verbenaceae

    • Aloysia citrodora (Lemon Verbena)

Textbook Information

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

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

3. Teaching materials provided by the professor

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTYLEDONS)Poaceae: Panicum miliaceum (Millet)Arecaceae: Serenoa repens (Dwarf Palm)Book: 1 Chapter 12, materials provided by the professor.
2MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTYLEDONS) Apiaceae Centella asiatica (Centella asiatica) Araliaceae Eleutherococcus senticosus (Eleutherococcus) Panax ginseng (Ginseng) Asteraceae Hieracium pilosella (Pilosella) Solidago virgaurea (Goldenrod) Equisetaceae Equisetum arvense (Horsetail) Ericaceae Vaccinium macrocarpon (American Cranberry) Fabaceae Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) Fucaceae Ascophyllum nodosum (Kelp) Hamamelidaceae Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) Lamiaceae Vitex agnus-castus (Chasteberry) Malpighiaceae Malpighia glabra (Acerola) Meliaceae Azadirachta indica (Neem) Myrtaceae Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus) Papaveraceae Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy) Rosaceae Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Potentilla erecta (Tormentil) Rosa canina (Dog Rose) Salicaceae Salix alba (White Willow) Schisandraceae Schisandra chinensis (Schisandra) Urticaceae Urtica dioica (Nettle) Verbenaceae Aloysia citrodora (Lemon Verbena) Book: 1 Chapter 12, materials provided by the professor.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Learning Assessment Methods

Written and oral. The assessment can also be conducted remotely, should conditions require it.

Evaluation Criteria

The final exam will be evaluated based on the following equally weighted indicators, consistent with the intended learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors):

  • Ability for personal elaboration and operational initiative;

  • Ability to consult and use bibliographic material;

  • Presentation skills;

  • Scientific understanding of the topic.

Therefore, the final grade takes into account various factors listed below.

Quality of knowledge, skills, and competencies possessed and/or demonstrated: a) Appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of knowledge b) Appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of skills c) Appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of competencies

Presentation Method: a) Expressive ability; b) Appropriate use of the specific language of the discipline; c) Logical and consequential ability in connecting content; d) Ability to link different topics by finding common points and establishing a coherent general design, i.e., by organizing the structure, organization, and logical connections of the presentation; e) Synthesis skills, also through the use of the subject's own symbolism and the graphical expression of notions and concepts, for example in the form of formulas, diagrams, and equations.

Relational Qualities: Willingness to engage in conversation and interact with the professor during the interview.

Personal Qualities: a) Critical thinking; b) Self-evaluation skills; c) Problem-solving skills; d) Decision-making skills.

Based on the above, the grade can be:

a) Sufficient (18 to 20/30) The candidate demonstrates a few acquired notions, a superficial level, and many gaps. Modest expressive skills, but still sufficient to sustain a coherent dialogue; logical and consequential ability in connecting topics at an elementary level; poor synthesis skills and somewhat labored graphical expression; poor interaction with the professor during the interview.

b) Fair (21 to 23) The candidate demonstrates fair acquisition of notions, but little in-depth knowledge and few gaps; more than sufficient expressive skills to sustain a coherent dialogue; acceptable command of scientific language; logical and consequential ability in connecting topics of moderate complexity; more than adequate synthesis skills and acceptable graphical expression.

c) Good (24 to 26) The candidate demonstrates a rather broad body of notions, moderate in-depth knowledge, with small gaps; satisfactory expressive skills and a significant command of scientific language; easily identifiable dialogue skills and critical thinking; good synthesis skills and more than acceptable graphical expression.

d) Very Good (27 to 29) The candidate demonstrates a pervasive and well-developed body of notions, with marginal gaps; notable expressive skills and a high command of scientific language; remarkable dialogue skills, good competence, and a significant aptitude for logical synthesis; high synthesis and graphical expression skills.

e) Excellent (30) The candidate demonstrates a pervasive and in-depth body of notions, with any gaps being irrelevant; high expressive skills and a high command of scientific language; excellent dialogue skills, a marked aptitude for making connections between different topics; excellent synthesis skills and great familiarity with graphical expression.

Honors (Lode) are awarded to candidates who are clearly above average, and whose any notional, expressive, conceptual, or logical limitations are, on the whole, completely irrelevant.

Information for students with disabilities and/or specific learning disabilities (SpLD): To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SpLD), the reference professor of our Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

  • Describe the botanical characteristics and veterinary ethnobotanical uses of Centella asiatica.

  • Describe the botanical characteristics and veterinary ethnobotanical uses of Eschscholzia californica.