The Course concerns the study of general pharmacology and plant materials, describing their possible therapeutic use.
LEARNING OUTCOMES Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the Course, students will be able to: - describe the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs and active ingredients of plants, as well as the action molecular mechanisms of these compounds; - describe the main drug materials and active compounds, the pharmacological effects, and their possible rational use in therapy. Applying knowledge and understanding: The knowledge acquired during the Course will be used by the students in the workplace, industry and research. Making judgments: During the lessons, the discussion of the results of scientific publications aimed to clarify the efficacy, safety and tolerability related to herbal drug rational use will be stimulated. Communication skills: Acquisition of clear and appropriate terminology.
Course Prerequisites
Prerequisites are not required. However, students should know Human Anatomy.
Teaching Methods
The Course is made up of 40 hours of frontal teaching, divided into 2 hour lessons, according to the academic calendar, and 12 hours of classroom exercises. Frontal teaching consists of theoretical lessons, mainly with the use of PowerPoint slides. Furthermore, teamworks will be proposed to the students in order to deepen the program topics, with the critical analysis of pre-clinical and clinical studies available in the literature.
A constant participation to the lessons is required.
Assessment Methods
For final evaluation a written multiple choice test will be plan. 60 questions (30 of Pharmacognosy and 30 of Pharmaceutical Botany) with 5 answers each, only one is correct. Evaluation: correct answers +0.5, no answer 0, wrong 0. The final mark will be expressed X/30 and published on the course's e-learning page. Within 3 days student can ask by mail to refuse. Minimal mark to pass the exam: 18. Multiple choice test exam could be taken in english (for foreign students).
Texts
- Katzung, Farmacologia generale e clinica, Piccin - Sacchetti, Botanica farmaceutica e farmacognosia, Piante officinali, droghe e prodotti erboristici, UTET Università For more informations: - Rossi – Cuomo – Riccardi, Farmacologia – Principi di base e applicazioni terapeutiche, Edizioni Minerva medica - Bruni, Farmacognosia generale e applicata – I farmaci naturali, Piccin
Contents
GENERAL PHARMACOLOGY - Branches of Pharmacology. - Definition and classification of drugs. - Origin and nature of the drugs. - Selective toxicity. - Drug action. Pharmacodynamic concepts. - Pharmacokinetics: drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. - Drug absorption. - Drug distribution in the body. - Drug metabolism or biotransformation. - Drug excretion. - Pharmacokinetic parameters. - Adverse drug reactions. - Combination therapy. - Drug development.
PHARMACOGNOSY - Instability in active compound concentration. - Production and preservation of plant materials. - Plant materials containing carbohydrates. - Plant materials containing carbohydrates and short chain organic acids. - Plant materials containing lipids. - Plant materials containing saponins. - Plant materials containing active steroid compounds. - Plant materials containing essences and resins. - Plant materials containing active phenolic and polyphenolic compounds. - Plant materials containing alkaloids. - Plant materials containing active antitumor compounds. - Plant materials containing active hallucinogenic compounds.
Course Language
Italian
More information
PowerPoint slides projected in the classroom during the lessons of Pharmacognosy will be made available to the students at the end of each lesson.
