Pharmacognosy

Recommended Prerequisites

The student must have the basic knowledge in the areas of pharmaceutical botany, plant physiology, quantitative analytical chemistry, organic chemistry (nomenclature and functional proprieties) and instrumental analysis (chromatography and spectroscopy). Should also be aware of the physical-chemical grounds underlying pharmaceutic unit operations, mass transfer, heat transfer, separation and mechanic operations. Should also be skilled to carry out laboratory tasks, be aware of the risks, risk codes and safety procedures in the laboratory, as well as of the impacts and sustainability of laboratory operations.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is based on the integration of lectures, 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 (Portuguese Law 131/2015 and other internation Directives), with respect to drugs of natural origin. They should also acquire propedeutic knowledge for the understanding of the contents of forwarder courses of 2nd and 3rd cycle.

Students should:

- master the language and the specific terminology in the field of Pharmacognosy;

- know about the major groups of naturally occurring substances endowed with pharmacological activity or technological value;

- be skilled for the recognition of drugs, in particular those referenced in official Pharmacopoeias;

- be able to manipulate and process herbal raw-materials and herbal drugs, from the primary origin to the final use as pharmaceutical ingredient;

- hold skills to assess the quality of naturally occurring drugs in compliance with official standards.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Pharmacognosy, definitions, objective and multidisciplinary.

2. Natural products in the development and production of drugs. Plant resources for research and development of new drugs. Ethnopharmacology

3. Study of the major groups of plant metabolites and drugs containing them. Primary metabolites; Glycides and drugs with glycides; Lipids and fatty drugs;

b. Secondary plant 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

2. 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
Laboratory work or Field work: 10.0%
Frequency: 90.0%

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Proença da Cunha (Coord), 2014 “Farmacognosia e Fitoquímica”, 4ª ed (), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, ISBN 972-31-1142-X  

Farmacopeia Portuguesa IX (2010). Ed. Instituto Nacional da Farmácia e do Medicamento.

European Pharmacopeia 9th ed. (2016). Council of Europe, Strasbourg

 Herbal Medicinal Products - EU Monographs. European Medicine  Agency (2023) https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/herbal-medicinal-products

 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

 Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy 16ed. (2009), Elsevier Ld. ISBN 978-0-7020-2933-2

 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