Pharmaceutical Botany

Recommended Prerequisites

For a better understand the students need to have a good back ground in Biologyand demonstrate skills for the exercise of laboratory work for the use of laboratory instruments, including optical microscopy.

Teaching Methods

Teaching is based on the integration of master classes, laboratory practice and tutorial support.

Lectures with a strong component of dialogue and application in practical cases, essentially using the audiovisual media ("data show"). Laboratory classes using dry and fresh material and preparations for histological and anatomical studies, with an active participation of the students, stimulating their critical thinking. A  field trip take place at the Medical School of Coimbra Botanical Garden to have access to a vast collection of living plants belonging to different families.

Learning Outcomes

Provide theoretical and laboratory training for botanical knowledge of plant and fungal drugs, particularly those that have medicinal interest.
From the point of view of content and abilities and skills students should:

    -  Acquire histological and anatomical knowledge to distinguish plants and plant organs, especially those included in the Pharmacopoeia, as well as the secretory structures and their metabolites;

    -  Acquire bases on fungi with medicinal and toxicological interest;

    -  Acquire knowledge on plant biotechnology and its applications;

   -  Get some taxonomic knowledge allowing identification of vegetative and reproductive structures of some species with medicinal interest;

    -  Have developed reading skills and critical spirit.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

An introduction to Botany. Cell as the fundamental units of life. Plant cells: organelles, membranes and wall. Cell wall: structure and composition; cellular communications.

Cell and tissues of the plant body: primary and secondary growth; internal organization of the plant body: ground, vascular and dermal tissues. Vegetal histology.

Root, stem and leaf – Anatomy: primary and secondary structures. Identification of structures and organs in drugs.

Vascular plants and their metabolites: introduction to secondary metabolism. Characterization of secretory structures.

Totipotency of vegetative cells. In vitro cultures of plant cells and tissues. Plant biotechnology and its applications

Introduction to Systematic: types of classification systems. Classification of kingdoms. Fungi: general features; medicinal and toxicological importance of fungi. Vascular plants: general features. Spermatophytes (Gymnosperms and Angiosperms). Brief characterization of some medicinal Magnoliopsida.

Head Lecturer(s)

Lígia Maria Ribeiro Pires Salgueiro da Silva Couto

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

- Alexopoulos, C. & Mins, C., 1996 – Introductory Mycology, 4ª ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York

- Appezato-da-Glória, Carmello-Guerreiro S., 2006- Anatomia vegetal, ed UFU. Viçosa,  Brasil

- Moreira, I., 1998 – Histologia Vegetal, 3ª ed. Didática Editora, Lisboa.

- Paniagua, R., Nistal, M., Sesma, P., Alvarez-Uria & Fraile B., 1994 – Citologia e Histologia Vegetal y Animal. McGraw-Hill, Lisboa.

- Proença da Cunha e tal, 2010 Farmacognosia e Fitoquímica, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

- Tavares AC, Zuzarte M., Salgueiro L. , 2010 Plantas aromáticas e medicinais-Escola Médica do Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra.

Bibliografia complementar:

-Schweingruber F, Börner A, Schulze E., 2011- Atlas of steam in herbs, shrubs and trees, Springer, London  

-Jackson B, Snowdon D, 1990- Atlas of Microscopy of Medicinal Plants, Culinary Herbs and Spices Belhaven Press, London.