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

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.

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 (3 CFU)

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

Herbal 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 (6 CFU)

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

Herbal drugs containing carbohydrates

-marshmallow, mallow, echinacea, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, karaya rubber, guar gum, carob gum, guggul gum, manna, psyllium, algae, island lichen, oats.

Herbal drugs containing lipids

-olive oil, almond oil, peanut oil, seed oil, soybean oil, linseed oil, corn oil, evening primrose oil, castor oil.

Herbal Drugs containing proteolytic enzymes

- Pineapple, Papaya.

Herbal drugs containing terpenes

-mint, eucalyptus, lemon balm, calendula, cinnamon, gentian, dandelion, ginger, rosemary, turmeric, fennel, lavender, saffron, arnica, devil's claw, centella, cannabis, ginkgo, yew, chamomile, valerian, wormwood, tansy.

Herbal drugs containing glycosides

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

-Sulfur: garlic

-Saponinic: licorice, ginseng, eleutherococcus, horse chestnut, whitania, fenugreek, ivy

-Alcohol: willow.

-Aldehyde: vanilla.

-Phenolic: bearberry.

Herbal drugs containing phenylpropanoids

-milk thistle, artichoke, propolis, elderberry, hawthorn, olive, fermented red rice, black raspberry, red vine, sweet clover, blueberry, American cranberry, pomegranate, french maritime pine, St. John's wort, passionflower, kava, hops, burdock, soy, agnocasto, Chinese angelica, cimifuga, witch hazel, tea, ratania.

 

Herbal drugs containing steroids

-Cardiac glycosides: digital, strophanthus, scilla.

Herbal drugs containing alkaloids

Coffee, tea, guaranà, matè, cola, cocoa, hydraste, boldo, colchico, curare, ipecacuana, opium, rauwolfia, rye horned, vinca, china, jaborandi, capsicum, ephedra, amanita, peyote, khat, tobacco, belladonna, henbane , stramonio, coca

Essences, resins and balsams

Chemical composition and biological effects.

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.

5. Fondamenti di Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia. Heinrich M., Barnes J., Gibbons S., Williamson E.M. Ed. Edra.

6. Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia: basi scientifiche e aspetti applicativi. Eds: G. Mazzanti, M. Dell’Agli, A.A. Izzo (PICCIN Nuova Libraria S.P.A.- Padova).

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