OVERVIEW

Pharmacognosy studies the natural compounds with a biological activity and their active components, as well as their molecular and pharmacological effects, their use in therapy or their role in the development of drugs.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The general principles of pharmacognosy are described. The main vegetable drugs are described with particular reference to those found in the European and Italian Pharmacopoeia.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Pharmacognosy aims at characterizing the main derivatives of natural origin and their active constituents, describing their therapeutic effects in the different organs and systems, such as the central nervous system, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, genitourinary and respiratory systems, as well as their possible side effects, toxicity and interactions with other drugs. 

The course aims at analysing with a rational and scientific approach the pharmacological and molecular bases of their effects, in order to clarify the profile of safety and efficacy of the use of the studied natural compounds 

At the end of the course, the student will acquire knowledges and expertises about the natural compunds and their acive components, will be able to describe their therapeutic effects, side effects and toxicity, as well as their cellular and molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the student will acquire a proper scientific language.

PREREQUISITES

Basic notions of botany, animal biology, anatomy and physiology. The only prerequisites required are cellular biology and anatomy

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching program will be fully developed within a total of 20 classes of 2 hours. Classes could be given by on-line telematic platform when/if necessary

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Introduction to pharmacognosy.

- Definition and classification of natural derivates, primary and secondary metabolism, phyto-complex.

- Factors affecting the variability of the active components content in natural derivates. Natural factors: endogenous or genetic factors, exogenous or environmental factors. Artificial factors: collection, preparation and preservation.

- Alterations of natural derivates and quality control.

- Basic notions of pharmacology: pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

- Natural compounds acting on the peripheral nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic effects.

- Natural compounds acting on the central nervous system: compounds with stimulant, anxyolitic, sedative, antidepressant and analgesic activities. Drugs of abuse and hallucinogens.

- Natural compounds with adaptogenic, procognitive and immunological activities.

- Natural compounds affecting the cardio-circulatory apparatus: with cardiotonic, vasoactive and vasoprotective activities.

- Natural compounds affecting the coagulation cascade.

- Natural compounds with hypocholesterolemic effects.

- Natural compounds acting on the gastrointestinal apparatus: with eupeptic, mucose-protective, carminative, laxative, anti-diarrheal,  hepatoprotective activities

- Natural compounds acting on the respiratory system. 

- Natural compounds acting on the genitourinary apparatus. Antiseptic and diuretic, the main phytoestrogens compounds.

- Natural compounds with anti-inflammatory activity.

- Natural compounds with anticancer activity.

- Pharmacovigilance and phytovigilance notions.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Farmacognosia e Fitoterapia: basi farmacolighe e aspetti applicativi (Mazzanti, Dell'Agli, Izzo); PICCIN EDITORE

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GUENDALINA OLIVERO (President)

MARCO MILANESE

ANGELA BISIO (Substitute)

TIZIANA BONIFACINO (Substitute)

CHIARA CERVETTO (Substitute)

ERNESTO FEDELE (Substitute)

MASSIMO GRILLI (Substitute)

ANNA MARIA PITTALUGA (Substitute)

LUCA RAITERI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The beginning of the lessons and the venue will be published on the Department website as soon as they will be available.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists in an oral session. The examination board is always composed by two lecturers (in case of necessity, the examination is conducted by the lecturer and by a graduate student/ postdoc-fellow, recognized by the Department Committee). The exam questions relate to matters dealt during the lectures and allow the board to verify the achievement of the educational objectives of teaching. 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final mark will take into account the level of competence acquired, the reasoning  and correlation between the different topics of the program and the proper scientific language used during the interview. If the evaluation criteria are not achieved sufficiently, the student will be rejected and invited to deepen the study, using, if necessary, further explanation by the lecturer.

Exam schedule