Pharmacognosy

Recommended Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with concepts acquired in the courses of Pharmaceutical Botany, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Instrumental Analysis Methods I, Instrumental Methods of Analysis II and demonstrate skills for the exercise of laboratory work, for the use of laboratory instruments and to apply fundamental physical and chemical concepts for extractive, separation and analytical procedures.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is based on the integration of master classes, laboratory practice and tutorial support. The contents are detailed with regard to its theoretical bases and illustrated by independent exercise of laboratory activities. Autonomy and critical thinking are stimulated by proposals of bibliographic searches and reports.

Learning Outcomes

Students should acquire skills to perform according the Pharmaceutical Act (art. 77 of the Decree-Law n. 288/2001), in particular items 1-5, with respect to drugs of natural origin. They should also acquire knowledge for the understanding of the contents of forwarder courses of 2nd cycle (and other cycles).

Students should: master the language and the specific terminology in the field of Pharmacognosy; know the major groups of naturally occurring substances endowed with pharmacological activity or technological interest; hold skills that enable the recognition of drugs, in particular those referenced in official Pharmacopoeias; to have skills for the processing of drugs of natural origin, from its origin to the final pharmaceutical use; hold skills to assess the quality of naturally occurring drugs in compliance with officialstandards.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.Pharmacognosy, definitions, objective and multidisciplinary.

2. Natural products in the development and production of drugs.

a. Plant resources for research and development of new drugs.

b. Ethnopharmacology

3. Study of the major groups of plant metabolites and drugs containing them.

a. Primary metabolites;

i. Glucides and drugs with glucides;

ii. Lipids and drugs with lipid composition;

b. Secondary metabolites:

i. Phenolic compounds:

1. phenolic acids;

2. flavonoids;

3. tannins;

4. anthraquinones.

5. coumarins.

6. Drugs with phenolic and polyphenolic compounds;

ii. Alkaloids

1. Drugs with alkaloids

iii. Terpenes

1. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes

a. Aromatic plants and essential oils

b. Iridoids and drugs with iridoids

1. Diterpenes and triterpenes

i. Drugs with diterpenes

ii. Drugs with triterpenes

iii. Aglucones, cardiokinetic glycosides and drugs containing them;

iv. Saponins and drugs with saponins.    

Head Lecturer(s)

Carlos Manuel Freire Cavaleiro

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 5.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 5.0%
Resolution Problems: 10.0%
Frequency: 40.0%
Exam: 40.0%

Bibliography

Proença da Cunha (Coord), 2010, “Farmacognosia e Fitoquímica”, 3ª ed., Fundação
Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, ISBN 972-31-1142-2
Farmacopeia Portuguesa IX (2010). Ed. Instituto Nacional da Farmácia e do Medicamento.European Pharamcopea (2012). Council of Europe, Strasbourg
Herbal Medicines for Human Use - EU Monographs. European Medicine Agency. (2015) http://www.ema.europa.eu
/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/landing/herbal_search.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001fa1d
Proença da Cunha, O. Roque (2008) “Plantas medicinais da Farmacopeia Portuguesa” 1ª ed., Fundação Calouste
Gulbenkian, Lisboa,
Samuelson G., (1999)Drugs of Natural Origin – A Textbook of Pharmacognosy.Ed. Swedish Pharmaceutical Press.
Sweden
Scientific Databases:
Web of Knowledge:http://apps.webofknowledge.com/UA_GeneralSearch_input.do?product=UA&
search_mode=GeneralSearch&SID=Q2x9ry9DnffLOSUyvK3&preferencesSaved=
PubMed:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed