OVERVIEW

Concepts of general botany (histology, organography, reproduction, notes about taxonomy) for the understanding of herbal drug descriptions found in the various pharmacopoeias are provided. The main plant taxa of pharmaceutical interest are described, following a systematic approach.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aim of the course is to provide basic information for the knowledge and identification of the main botanical sources of plant drugs used in pharmacy and the understanding of the monographs relating to medicinal plants found in the various pharmacopoeias.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Know the main taxa of pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic interest.

Apply the acquired knowledge to the identification and description of pharmaceutical drugs.

Understand monographs relating to medicinal plants found in various pharmacopoeias.

PREREQUISITES

The student must possess the basic knowledge of plant biology.

TEACHING METHODS

The course comprises online classes (hub Microsoft Teams, https://cedia.unige.it/didattica-a-distanza). The Team based Learning methodology is applied. The illustrated educational materials (slides) is provided to the students at the beginning of the course, through Aulaweb. Students are invited to download the material from the beginning of the course, in order have a track on which insert notes, comments etc. Ongoing tests are foreseen.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Syllabus

a. Characterization and description of plant species: definition of medicinal plant and Pharmaceutical Botany. Scientific nomenclature. Traditional and Virtual Herbarium.

b. Systematics, taxonomy, species identification: A brief history of systematics (classification based on the usefulness and artificial, natural, phylogenetic classifications). Concept of species and hybrid. Definitions of classification, systematic and taxonomy. Identification or recognition of a species: the analytical keys.

c. Histology: meristems and definitive tissue (dermal, ground, mechanical, conducting and secretory tissues).

d. Organography: thallophytes and cormophytes. Structure of the corm: root (primary and secondary structure); stem (primary and secondary structure); leaf; flower and inflorescence; fruit.

e. Reproduction: Notes on reproduction (asexual and sexual) and metagenetic cycles in plants. Examples of cycles in algae, mushrooms, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms.

f. The taxa of medicinal interest

- Algae: general information and main taxa of medicinal interest.

- Fungi: General information and main taxa of medicinal interest.

- Lichens: General information and main taxa of medicinal interest.

- Ppteridophytes: General information and main taxa of medicinal interest.

- Gymnosperms: General information. Main taxa of medicinal interest of the following families: Ginkgoaceae, Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Taxaceae, Ephedraceae.

-Angiosperms 1. Magnoliopsida o Dicotyledones. General information. Main taxa of medicinal interest of the following families: Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Salicaceae, Juglandaceae, Moraceae, Cannabaceae, Urticaceae, Santalaceae, Viscaceae, Polygonaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Cactaceae, Euphorbiaceae Hamamelidaceae, Myristicaceae, Illiciaceae, Monimiaceae, Lauraceae, Menispermaceae, Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae, Papaveraceae, Brassicaceae, Caricaceae, Theaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Lythraceae, Punicaceae, Araliaceae, Apiaceae, Tiliaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Linaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Rutaceae, Burseraceae, Polygalaceae, Sapindaceae, Hippocastanaceae, Celastraceae, Aquifoliaceae, Rhamnaceae, Vitaceae, Piperaceae, Ericaceae, Primulaceae, Sapotaceae, Styracaceae, Oleaceae, Loganiaceae, Gentianaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Pedaliaceae, Plantaginaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Valerianaceae, Campanulaceae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae.

-Angiosperms 2. Liliopsida o Monocotyledones. General information. Main taxa of medicinal interest of the following families: Alliaceae, Asparagaceae, Colchicaceae, Liliaceae, Convallariaceae, Asphodelaceae, Ruscaceae, Iridaceae, Agavaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Bromeliaceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae Zingiberaceae, Orchidaceae..

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Maugini E., Maleci Bini L., Mariotti Lippi M. 2006. Manuale di Botanica Farmaceutica. Padova: Piccin.

Speranza A., Calzoni G.L. 2001. Struttura delle piante in immagini. Bologna: Zanichelli.

Bruni A., Nicoletti M. 2003. Dizionario Ragionato di Erboristeria e Fitoterapia. Padova: Piccin.

Senatore F. 2012. Biologia e Botanica Farmaceutica. Padova: Piccin.

Pignatti S. 2002. Flora d’Italia Bologna: Edagricole.

Gastaldo P. 1987. Compendio della Flora Officinale Italiana. Padova: Piccin.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

L'orario di tutti gli insegnamenti è consultabile all'indirizzo EasyAcademy.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is online (“Aulaweb esami”, https://esami2020.aulaweb.unige.it/) and consists of a quiz, covering all the topics listed in the file on Aulaweb: " SCHEDA insegnamento Botanica Farmaceutica".

The quiz is made up of 15 questions. For each correct answer, 1 to 4 points, or fractions thereof, are awarded, up to a maximum of 30 points. The student can only make one attempt to complete the quiz and has a total of 13 minutes from the moment he clicks the start attempt (AVVIA IL TENTATIVO) button. The questions are presented in sequence and it is not possible to leave pending questions (if you go to the next question you cannot go back).

DSA Students who notified it in good time (two days before the exam date) will benefit from the additional time required by current legislation. To conclude the test, the student must click on the “end the attempt” button (TERMINA IL TENTATIVO) and then on the “send all and finish” button (INVIA TUTTO E TERMINA) within the maximum time limit

The exam is considered passed only if a score ≥18 is achieved.

The possibility of subsequent examination dates is given only in very exceptional cases and this possibility will be discussed with the commission the exam calendar official date anyway.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Correctness of the answer to quiz questions. Total score resulting from the sum of the partial scores.

Exam schedule