OVERVIEW

The General Pharmacology module will deal with topics related to the study of the mechanisms of action of drugs and all the factors that influence their effects on the human body, reviewing concepts of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the development of drugs.

The Pharmacognosy module proposes to characterise the main derivatives of natural origin, reviewing their active constituents, the therapeutic/toxic effects that they have both at the cellular level and in the different systems of the body, and describing the pharmacological bases related to their therapeutic use and the molecular mechanisms of their effects.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The General Pharmacology module aims to provide students with a solid foundation in relation to the definition of a drug, and everything related to pharmacological disciplines, the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the factors that influence the variability of drug response and the main mechanisms and effects of drug interactions. All aspects related to the development processes of a drug from design to post-marketing will also be covered.

As regards the Pharmacognosy module, skills will be provided relating to the general principles of pharmacognosy, the main plant, animal and mineral drugs, with particular reference to those present in the European and Italian Pharmacopoeia and to all products taken systemically or locally distributed by pharmacies, pharmaceutical corners and herbalists, such as food supplements and medical devices.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Training objectives in pharmacokinetics will address qualitative and quantitative concepts related to ADME processes, i.e. the set of events that bring a drug into the human body (Absorption), distribute it to the various organs and tissues (Distribution), bio-transform it (Metabolism) and remove it from the body (Elimination). The educational objectives of pharmacodynamics will address the study of how drugs interact with the human body, with a focus on the mechanisms of drug action (e.g. interactions with receptors, enzymes, transporters, etc.), dose-effect relationships, duration and intensity of therapeutic and adverse effects, as well as the potency and efficacy of drugs. The study of variability in drug response aims at identifying genetic and non-genetic factors that may modify the effects expected following the administration of a drug, including drug-drug interactions. The educational objectives of the pharmacognosy module are: i) to provide the concepts and basics for the identification and knowledge of derivatives of natural origin, in particular plant, mineral and animal, ii) to discuss the pharmacological (pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects) and toxicological effects of their active constituents, iii) to evaluate their therapeutic use in the clinic and their potential use in industry and research.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements 

TEACHING METHODS

The General Pharmacology teaching module comprises 24 lectures of an average duration of 2 hours with active learning techniques that involve students with questions and scientific reasoning. During the lectures, the topics covered in the programme will be explained in full detail.

With regard to the Pharmacognosy module, the programme will be delivered entirely through 20 lectures lasting an average of 2 hours, with active learning techniques involving students with questions and scientific reasoning. During the lectures, the topics covered in the programme will be explained in full detail. The teaching material used during the lectures will be accessible on the AulaWeb portal by means of a registration key.

The teaching material used during the lectures will be accessible on the AulaWeb portal by means of a registration key. In the event of particular problems that do not allow for face-to-face teaching (e.g. weather emergencies or other emergency conditions), the lectures may also be conducted electronically using the Microsoft Teams online platform. The lecturer will promptly inform students of any changes via the AulaWeb teaching website and the DIFAR website.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY MODULE

Introduction to pharmacology and general concepts.

Definition of drug. Specific and non-specific effects of drugs. Constituents of drug, classification and nomenclature of drugs, therapeutic, toxic, placebo and nocebo effects; equivalent drugs. The development of a drug and references to the different branches of pharmacology. The different phases that characterise drug development (Preclinical phases, clinical phases and post-marketing phases). Definitions and outlines of pharmacognosy, pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, digital pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics.

Pharmacokinetics.Pharmaceutical phase. Basic principles and mechanisms of drug passage across biological membranes. Drug routes of administration and factors influencing absorption. Drug distribution and binding to plasma and tissue proteins; factors influencing distribution. Drug metabolism: phase I and phase II reactions. Factors influencing metabolism. Drug elimination routes and factors influencing elimination. Clinical pharmacokinetics: mono- and bicompartmental models. Bioavailability. Apparent volume of distribution, clearance and plasma half-life. Single and repeated dose kinetics. Attack and maintenance doses. Pharmacodynamics.Mechanisms of drug action. Basic principles and quali-quantitative aspects of drug-receptor interaction. Drug-receptor interaction phenomena and the concept of binding affinity and selectivity. Receptor theories: occupational theory, intrinsic activity theory, two-stage model theory and allosteric theory. Total, partial and reverse agonists. Concept of potency, efficacy and safety. Competitive, non-competitive antagonists and allosteric modulators. Synergy and additivity. Dose/concentration-response curves, desensitisation, tolerance, receptor up- and down-regulation. Receptors/reserve transporters. Receptors: classification, macromolecular structure and signal transduction systems. Examples of the main receptor subtypes. Ion channels and the mechanisms regulating calcium ion equilibria. Membrane transporters.

Variability of drug response.Variability and factors influencing drug response - possible applications for simulated pharmacy exercises. Predictable and unpredictable factors. Individual variability. Pharmacology of gender, in the elderly, children and overweight people. Genetic alterations, polymorphisms and variability of response to famaci. Variability of response to repeated administration: allergy, tolerance, tachyphylaxis, idiosyncrasy and adverse reactions in general. Pharmacoresistance.

Drug-drug interactions.The importance and problems of drug-drug interaction studies. Concept of clinically relevant interaction. Mechanisms of drug-drug, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions. Hints of drug-drug interactions with herbal products. Hints of drug-food interactions.

PHARMACOGNOSY MODULE

Introduction to pharmacognosy, definition and classification of drugs of natural origin (plant, animal, mineral). Hints at the factors influencing the variability of the content of active components in drugs. Natural factors: endogenous or genetic factors, exogenous or ecological factors. Artificial factors: harvesting and balsamic time, preparation and preservation by dehydration or enzymatic inactivation processes. Drug alterations. Hints on storage and analysis of drugs, quality control of a drug before marketing and labelling data. Generalities of pharmacology. Outlines of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Therapeutic effect, side effect and toxic effect. Mechanisms of interaction between different active ingredients.

Introduction to the main natural constituents of therapeutic, pharmaco-technological and industrial interest. Compounds of natural origin acting on the Central and Peripheral Nervous System. Principles with sympatho-mimetic, sympatho-lytic, parasympatho-mimetic and parasympatho-lytic action.  Natural principles with neuro-stimulant, sedative-tranquilant and anxiolytic, antidepressant, analgesic, anaesthetic, antihemicranics, drugs for voluptuary use, hallucinogens and psychedelics activity.

Compounds of natural origin active on the cardiovascular system. Principles with cardiotonic activity, vasoactive, vaso-protectors and modifiers of capillary circulation, anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, antihaemorrhagics, antifibrinolytics, and antianaemics.

Notes on immune function and immunomodulatory compounds of natural origin and their mechanism of action, substances with adaptogenic and procognitive activity.

Compounds of natural origin acting on the gastro-enteric system. Principles with eupeptic and stomatal activity, choleretics and cholagogues, antispasmodics and carminatives, laxatives, purgatives and anti-diarrhoeals, hypo-cholesterolaemic agents. Enzymes of natural origin and main uses. Compounds with probiotic, prebiotic and nutraceutical activity.

Hints at compounds of natural origin with antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic, antimalarial and antibiotic activity.

Compounds of natural origin active on the respiratory system. Expectorants, mucolytics and emollients, balsamic and antiseptic, bronchodilators and antiasthmatics.

Compounds of natural origin active on the genito-urinary system. Principles with diuretic, diaphoretic, antiseptic, astringent activity; mention of phytoestrogens and main uses.

Compounds of natural origin acting on the musculo-skeletal and skin apparatus. Principles with anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic and revulsive activity.

Compounds of natural origin with antitumour activity.

Compounds of natural origin used in cosmetics for their preservative, antiseptic and emollient properties and as sunscreens. Compounds of natural origin used in pharmaceutical technology.

Hints of pharmacovigilance and phytovigilance, on biotechnological derivatives and toxins of natural origin, on alternative medicine of natural origin.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Famacologia generale

- Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia (Mazzanti, Dell’Aglio, Izzo) PICCIN EDITORE

- Farmacognosia. Botanica, chimica e farmacologia delle piante medicinali, (F. Capasso); SPRINGER EDITOR.

- Fondamenti di Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia (Galeotti, Mazzanti, Serafini); EDRA EDITOR

Famacognosia

- Farmacologia generale e molecolare, (Clementi, Fumagalli ), EDRA EDITORE

- Farmacologia generale e clinica, (Bertram G. Katzung, Preziosi -Curatore), PICCIN EDITORE

- Farmacologia, (Rang & Dale), EDRA EDITORE

- Goodman & Gilman. Le basi farmacologiche della terapia, (Brunton, Hilal-Dandan, Knollmann), ZANICHELLI EDITORE

- Farmacologia - Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche, (Rossi, Cuomo, Riccardi), MINERVA MEDICA EDITORE

- Farmacologia.  Con Contenuto digitale, (Govoni), AMBROSIANA EDITORE

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The timetable for this course can be found at: EasyAcademy Portal.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is divided into modules and for both will be oral. The exam is conducted by the course owner, supported by a commissioner (if necessary, the exam is conducted by the professor and a PhD student/research fellow, recognised as a Subject Expert by the Degree Course Council), and lasts from 20 to a maximum of 40 minutes, considering both modules. The exam questions focus on all the topics covered during the lectures and will allow the commission to verify the achievement of the educational objectives of the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final grade will take into account the level of preparation, reasoning skills and correlation between the different topics of the program and the appropriate scientific language used during the interview. If the evaluation criteria are not sufficiently met, the student will be rejected and invited to deepen the study using, if necessary, further explanations by the professor. The exam will specifically assess (a) the level of preparation and the notions acquired, (b) the ability to associate compounds of natural origin with their mechanism of action and the correct therapy according to the therapeutic indications, (c) the ability to link the different topics, reasoning and the use of a professionally appropriate language. In detail, a grade between: - 18 and 21 will indicate a modest knowledge of the topics covered and a sufficient ability to place knowledge in the correct clinical context; - 22 and 24 will indicate sufficient knowledge of the topics covered, an adequate ability to deal with the topics transversally and to place knowledge in a clinical context; - 25 and 27 will indicate a good knowledge of the topics covered, a good ability to deal with the topics transversally and to place knowledge in context and more than good ability to place knowledge for therapeutic use; - 28 and 30 will indicate an excellent knowledge of the topics covered, excellent ability to deal with topics transversally and to place knowledge in context and excellent ability to place knowledge for therapeutic use; Honors are provided if the student stands out for an in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Contact the teacher for further information not included in the teaching sheet.